The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), cement producers and block moulders are battling to exonerate themselves from alleged complicity in the production and importation of low quality cement, which a group claims is the cause of incessant collapse of buildings. Asst. Editor Chikodi Okereocha examines the implication for the economy.
Many reasons have been proferred for the recurring collapse of buildings. The most biting appears to be the claim by a coalition of civil society groups and professional associations in the construction industry that it is caused by low cement quality. The allegation is an indictment of cement producers and importers who have been denying the claim to protect their business
Block moulders and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) have also defended themselves against the claim. SON is perceived to be weak production and importion low quality cement.
The coalition is insisting that the government should make 42.5 grade of cement the standard product in Nigeria instead of the lower 32.5 grade mostly patronised by builders. The coalition, in a working document titled: “Cement: Standardisation, Safety Versus Affordability and Poor Quality,” raised a critical question over the quality of cement in the market, viz, “how do you identify good quality cement? is it by the manufacturer’s name or by its composition or pigmentation?”
The coalition argued that nearly all cement manufacturers and importers take advantage of the lax regulation and lack of enforcement to vary their pigmentation in favour of the lower grade cement (32.5), which in most cases is used in building and seen to be partly responsible for the collapse of buildings. They believe that the practice is overlooked by SON. The coalition said it is warming up for a major campaign for the standardisation of the manufacturing and importation of cement.
The coalition’s claims did not go down well with cement manufacturers, SON and block moulders, who have been debunking the allegations. Dangote Cement Plc, West Africa’s largest cement manufacturer and importer, was the first to react. The cement giant said it took exceptions to what it saw as an attempt by the coalition to lump it with other cement manufacturers who the group accused of producing low quality cement. The company insisted that it does not produce 32.5 grade cement. Rather, it produces only 42.5 grade cement in all its three plants in Obajana, Kogi State; Ibese, Ogun State; and Gboko, Benue State.
According to its Chief Executive Officer D.V.G. Edwin, this is in line with the company’s adherence to global best practices of cement production of a minimum of 42.5 grade in all its factories nationwide. He explained that Dangote Cement chose to produce 42.5 cement grade because it is stronger and has better qualities, such as higher strength capability and rapid setting, which makes it the preferred grade among block makers, builders and construction workers. With quick setting, blocks come out stronger and reduces the number of breakages.
As part of efforts to drive quality, Edwin said Dangote Cement has, in the past two years, embarked on training programmes aimed at educating those in the construction industry on how to achieve premium results through implementation of the 42.5 cement grade as opposed to 32.5 grade.
He said the seminars and demonstrations with block makers is a permanent and continuous exercise, which forms a vital part of the company’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative aimed at preventing building collapse.
He also gave a breakdown of the different grades of cement available in the market. According to him, 92 per cent of Portland cement produced in the United States (US), are in 52.5 and 42.5 grades, while other imported cement from China, Japan, Denmark and Paris are all 42.5 Grade.
“Over 90 per cent of consumers are not aware of the different types of cement available in Nigeria. Their expectations in respect to the performance of cement are the same regardless of the type. The grade (quality) of concrete to be used may allow 32.5 grade cement for certain construction work such as pavements, rendering (plastering) and culverts but would demand 42.5 grade cement for structures, columns, bridges and multi-storey buildings,” he said.
Edwin maintained that Nigerians deserve the best, and that the company remains steadfast in meeting the needs of Nigerians for quality, cost effective cement.
“We want to align with the civil society group that there is need for standards in cement manufacturing; we need to comply to set standard so that Nigerians can get the best,” he said, adding that those arguing that migrating from 32.5 to 42.5 would erode their profit margins are insincere and selfish as human lives are more important than profits. He said producing 42.5 grade though would lead to a marginal cost increase, it should be seen as a patriotic gesture to stem the tide of building collapse.
“We place a high premium on human lives and not cost. Nothing on earth can be substituted for human lives,” he said, advocating that the best way to ensure safety in the construction industry is to insist on 42.5 as the grade to be produced and used in Nigeria.”
Lafarge WAPCO Plc also rejected the claim that poor cement quality is responsible for the increasing menace of building collapse in the country. The company instead, argued that one of the ways to stem the tide of collapse building is by improving construction practices. Lafarge alongside other cement manufacturers in its faction such as Ashaka Cement Plc, Northern Cement Company of Nigeria, Sokoto and United Cement Company Plc, Calabar, canvassed the position that, “the Nigerian cement industry is one of the most modern in Africa, with significant new technology and capacity recently installed. Cement quality conforms to the highest international standards and the industry is constantly working with the regulatory authorities (SON) to ensure up to date testing, certification of products and quality norms.”
The group said though they remain “committed to the sustainability of construction and share public concern regarding the menace of building collapse,” experience throughout the world shows clearly that cement quality is not the source of building collapse rather, the root cause is most frequently related to poor construction practices. The group said that the level of skill, education and awareness in the construction sector must be improved.
“There have been several programmes in conjunction with SON to educate and certify block makers and masons. We are committed to organising even more education and awareness in this area and have recently participated with the Ministry of Works to pursue this initiative,” the group explained
The cement manufacturers, however, did not see any wisdom in the suggestions that cement products should be limited and some removed from the market.
“Products such as 32.5 have actually been part of building in Nigeria for the last 54 years and are used widely throughout the world. Limiting product choices will not be good for the consumer and will send the industry backwards and away from current international trend,” the manufacturers pointed out, assuring that the cement manufacturing community would continue to support all initiatives in conjunction with other stakeholders to eradicate building collapse.
As Moses Ogunleye, President, Association of Town Planning Consultants of Nigeria, argue, there is no reason anything sub-standard should be in the market in the first instance, much less cement. He told The Nation that the raging controversy over poor quality of cement is a confirmation that SON is overwhelmed.
“SON seems to be overwhelmed; they are monitoring standard in several sectors and so, they may not be aware of the existence of poor quality cement in the market,” he said, adding: “let us ask questions from SON.”
He also said the Lagos State Material Testing Laboratory set up to register and accredit block moulders has not yet registered anybody. He, therefore, called on block moulders to embark on self-monitoring.
Indeed, SON has come under severe criticisms in recent times over alleged weakness in the regulation of the cement industry. For instance, in what is seen by many people as a veiled indictment of the regulatory role of SON, Dangote Cement said prior to Nigeria’s attainment of self-sufficiency in cement production, SON stipulated the 42.5 grade as the acceptable grade for importers of cement into the country.
The firm said as a responsible market leader, it has continued to produce 42.5 grade in its three plants in strict adherence to the stipulations of SON, wondering why SON should insist on 42.5 grade as the standard for import and allow a lower grade for local production.
“How come that during the import era, we were all compelled by the regulatory authorities to bring in 42.5 grades and now, since 2012 when import was banned, the same regulatory authorities condoned the production of 32.5 grades?,” Edwin asked.
However, SON has resisted attempts to put the blame on its doorstep. On the controversial grades of cement, SON noted that there are two grades comprising the 32.5 and 42.5, which also have various degrees of strength, but regretted that most members of the public are not even aware of the variety in grades, standards and specific applications of cement. The organisation added that what most people are aware of are the brand names, whereas the grades standards are equally important.
“This ignorance has led to the misapplication of cement by many users and for reasons of personal gain, some people may just utilise one bag when more bags are actually required,” SON’ Director-General, Dr. Joseph Odumodu, said
He insisted that as a responsible organisation, SON is committed to ensuring that the consumers get the best of quality whether in the construction industry or elsewhere. To this effect, he said the organisation has constituted a technical committee of experts to generally review the problems faced by stakeholders in the construction industry especially in terms of quality of building materials, including cement.
“The committee, which is made up of well-informed individuals would take a holistic look on the quality of building materials in the country inclusive of cement, as a responsible standards bureau, SON has never and will never leave the quality of any product to the whims and caprices of any individual or group of operators,” the DG insisted.
According to him, the issue of standardisation of products should not be left to the agency alone hence, it is necessary that stakeholders and other regulatory bodies, civil society groups, manufacturers, the academia and consumers make their input, which partly informed the putting in place of the technical committee.
“This technical committee is not chaired by SON, we just provide a secretariat and it is what the committee arrives at that would be taken to the council of SON and once it is approved, it becomes a standard. Let me also state that a standard is not enforceable except the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment designates it as a mandatory standard,” he explained.
SON seems to have an ally in the Block Moulders Association of Nigeria, which insisted that SON is not a weak regulator.
National Chairman, Block Moulders Association of Nigeria, Rasheed Adebowale, said the association is so much concerned about the attempts to portray SON as weak in the regulation of the cement sector “because we are part and parcel of the construction sector and major end users of the product.” He said that the association is not comfortable with what he described as the ‘faceless Civil Liberties Organisation’s claims. “We want to put it on record that we have never had it so good until the emergence of Odumodu at SON. The current leadership of SON is working closely and collaboratively with us to ensure quality and standard of products,” he added.
