SON Restates Commitment to Upholding Quality Standard for Iron Products
Dike Onwuamaeze
The Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has declared its commitment to upholding quality standards that would safeguard consumers’ interests and promote Nigeria’s economic development.
It made declaration in a public statement titled “SON Remains Steadfast in its Commitment to Safeguarding Consumer Interests and Promoting Economic Development Through Standardisation in the Iron and Steel Sector.”
The statement, which was signed by its Director of Public Relations, Mrs. Foluso Bolaji, was issued in rebuttal of an allegation made by the Iron Rod and Steel Distributors Employers Union of Nigeria (IRSDEUN) that expressed dissatisfaction with SON’s ineffectiveness in curbing the circulation of substandard products in the Nigerian market.
Bolaji said: “In light of these developments, it is evident that the allegations leveled against SON by the IRSDEUN are unfounded and without merit.
“We urge stakeholders to desist from spreading misinformation that undermines the efforts towards quality assurance in the iron and steel industry.
“As SON remains steadfast in its commitment to safeguarding consumer interests and promoting economic development, we call for constructive engagement and cooperation from all stakeholders to address challenges effectively.”
The press statement said that contrary to the claims made by the IRSDEUN, SON’s investigations and stringent monitoring mechanisms revealed a different reality, adding that it is essential to set the record straight and address the inaccuracies presented by the union.
“Firstly, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria vehemently rejects the assertion that SON has been lax in its regulatory duties.
“On the contrary, SON has been proactive in implementing measures to ensure that only products meeting the required quality standards are allowed into the market.
“Our efforts have led to significant strides in curbing the proliferation of substandard iron rods and steel products,” SON said.
Bolaji noted that “the suggestion that iron and steel distributors are mere victims in this scenario is disingenuous. Credible findings indicate that distributors themselves have been implicated as key players in the dissemination of substandard products.
“There have been instances where distributors exert pressure on manufacturers to produce substandard goods for their selfish gains, thus perpetuating the cycle of substandard products in the market.”
The standard organisation cited the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by an association of Steel Manufacturing companies (STEELMAN) to form a voluntary self-regulatory team in February, 2024, under the auspices of SON, which underscored its commitment to quality assurance.
It described the MoU as a “the self-regulating system adopted by these companies, in collaboration with SON, demonstrates a proactive approach towards ensuring compliance with national standards.”
