SON Moves To Enforce Ultimatum On Cement Production

The Standard
Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has said that there is no going back on the enforcement of the 60 days ultimatum given to cement producers in the country, after the expriation.
Director General of SON, Joseph Odumodu who disclosed this to journalists in Abuja at the weekend said that his organisation is prepared to shut-out any cement factory that does not comply with the directive at the expiration of the 60 days ultimatum.
He noted that many of the cement producers have not been producing at the required standard of 42 guage, pointing out that this has contributed to the menance of inferior materials for construction, and eventual collapse of buildings.
SON, he said has directed that cement production quality in Nigeria be upgraded from the usual 32.5 guage to the 42 guage for standardisation.
Meanwhile, some cement producers and dealers have noted it would not be good enough for SON to begin or to close down cement factory at the expiration of the 60 days ultimatum.
They insisted that what the organisation is supposed to do is to monitor the level of compliance on the new directive and then give sufficient time for companies to comply.
One of the representatives of a cement Company, Innocent Idu told newsmen that what SON is required to do at this first instance is to enlighten and inform the public of the particular cement brand that has not complied with the 42 guage standard in production.
He said that the period of 60 days is not enough for all producers to fully be mobilised for the change, noting that this would involved funds mobilisation and other logistics to be put in place and these things requires some time.