SON TASK FORCE COMMENCES NATIONWIDE TOUR OF STEEL PLANTS

As part of efforts to stem the tide of substandard reinforcement bar production and distribution in Nigeria, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria has commenced a nationwide facility tour of all steel production plants.

The activity was sequel to the recent inauguration of a National Task Force on steel monitoring by the Director General of the organization, Mr. Osita Aboloma.

Speaking in Lagos at the commencement of the programme, Chairman of the Task Force, Engr. Obiora Manafa said the objective of the tour was to ascertain the true position of manufacturing practices, production processes and equipment. The team will also ascertain quality control measures, inspection and testing equipment and the level of compliance of steel products to relevant standards namely Nigeria Industrial Standard (NIS 117) and British Standard (BS 4449).

Engr. Manafa stated that the mandate of the Task Force was to ensure that only Steel Products that meet the requirements of the relevant standards are produced or imported into the country. It is the responsibility of the Task Force to correct all the anomalies and bad practices in the Steel Sector with a view to sanitizing it and also eliminating sub-standard steel products in the country, he said.

The Task Force Chairman disclosed that observations that border on lack of adequate documentation for traceability of products, wrong tagging of finished products, inadequate calibration status of measuring equipment formed highlights of the team’s tour of six steel plants on the first day of the program.

According to him, the outcome of the facility tour will form the basis for the implementation of the monitoring and control program to be designed by SON to eliminate sharp practices within the steel sector in the overall interest of lives and properties in Nigeria.

Source: ISO