The Nation Newspaper

Tag: standardisation

  • How standardisation can boost Nigeria’s trade power

    How standardisation can boost Nigeria’s trade power

    The African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO) forum will hold in Nigeria from June 22 to 24. It is expected to bring together standards authorities from 54 African countries to brainstorm on how to harmonise standards for goods and services. The forum is an opportunity to rally the continent to one regime of standardisation to boost trade, Assistant Editor CHIKODI OKEREOCHA writes.

    At present, Nigeria and, indeed, the continent has no clear and coordinated approach to standardisation of goods and services. The lack of a uniform regime of standardisation is believed to be responsible for Africa’s meagre share of global trade put at three per cent.

    For a country such as Nigeria that is seeking to diversify her economy, following the sharp drop in revenue caused by the fall in oil prices, there is an urgent need to standardise her goods and services to make them competitive in the global market place.

    According to experts, this means that Nigeria potentially stands as the biggest beneficiary of any arrangement that would usher in a regime of standardisation to ease the movement of goods and services within and outside the continent.

    It is against this backdrop that the election of the Director-General,  Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Dr Joseph Odumodu, as president, African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO), in Yaoundé, Cameroun, two years ago, raised the hopes of not a few industry operators and stakeholders. The expectation was that Nigeria would ride on the platform of the continent-wide campaign to harmonise national and sub-regional standards to boost trade and perhaps, increase her share of the global trade.

    Incidentally, Odumodu was aware of such expectation while the importance of standardisation to the country’s economic fortunes was not lost on him. This was why on assumption of office, he urged a stronger ARSO and massive investment  in quality infrastructure at national and continental levels. He also expressed optimism that if all heads of government and heads of standards authorities in Africa heeded the call for a uniform standardisation, the quality of goods and services from the continent would improve and attract more buyers (more income for investors and workers) and more employment for youths. This, he noted, would help the continent transit to an industrialised economy which products would be globally acceptable.

    Now, an ample opportunity for Odumodu to further push the standardisation agenda and position the country to benefit from the initiative is here. As ARSO president, Nigeria will host heads of standards authorities from 54 African countries in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) between June 22 and 24. The three-day conference tagged: ‘ARSO Presidents’ Forum’ is an opportunity for the standards regulators to brainstorm on how to engineer free flow of goods, services and technology across the continent. The forum aims at activating the collective efforts in standardisation that will break the barriers to trade for the continent to prosper.

    ARSO, an inter-governmental body, was founded in 1977 by the Organisation for African Unity (OAU), now African Union (AU) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA). With its secretariat in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, the organisation has its roots in the African independence heroes’ desire for inter-African trade as key to the continent’s prosperity and their understanding that standardisation is the strategy for achieving it.

    Accordingly, ARSO is mandated to harmonise national and sub-regional standards as African standards. It is also mandated to promote and facilitate exchange of experts, information and cooperation in training of personnel in standardisation activities. The association also has the objective to coordinate the views of its members at the International Standardisation Organissation (ISO), IEC, OIML, Codex and other organisations that engage in standardisation activities.

    However, despite this inspiring mandate, the association has not succeeded in rallying the whole of the continent to one regime of standardisation. This, according to experts, is not unconnected with the fact that many African countries (including those that have ratified the ARSO constitution) are not committed to the success of the body. Many of them are also not paying their dues and are not participating in ARSO activities. Worse still, many of them don’t even have a national standards body; their standardisation activities are said to be carried out by an ordinary directorate within a ministry.

    The task before Odumodu is therefore, enormous. However, going by the activities lined up for the forum, observers say the SON DG appears to have a hang on how to turn things around. For instance, the ARSO President’s Forum has three sub-events, namely the ARSO CEOs Roundtable, the ARSO Made in Africa Expo and the African Standards Day Seminar. The CEOs Roundtable is an exclusive conference for only the 54 heads of standards authorities in Africa since they have to iron out their differences and move the continent forward in standardisation and internal trade.

    The Made in Africa Expo is a trade fair where exhibitors from all over Africa and seekers of standard products will meet, learn, make enquiries or transact business as they wish. A wide range of products will be on the stands and they will be good products befitting of a gathering of Africa’s standardisation experts, industrialists, marketers and seekers of high quality products. The only companies, which can display their products in this fair are the ones that present evidence of current approval from their country’s national standards body.

    On the other hand, the African Standards Day Seminar will have Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development as resource person. He will speak on ‘The Role of Standards in Promoting Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security in Africa.’ Discussants will be selected from among the heads of standards authorities to provide additional country perspectives.

    A Director at SON and Chairman of the Local Organising Committee,  Dr. Paul Angya, said invitations to the forum have already gone to the standards authority in each African country as well as to key industrialists and business people. He said Africa’s trade situation will never be the same again after the forum, adding that it promises to be a turning point in the continent’s joint effort to make progress.

    Some quality management practitioners who spoke with The Nation say once all the heads of standards meet and subscribe to  standardisation as a proven strategy for the individual countries and the continent, their interest in and commitment to ARSO will increase and that will make the body stronger. Also, those of them that have no national standards body will, under the influence of those that already have, will begin to strive to have theirs.

    Also, those who are not building up their national quality infrastructure will also learn from those who are. As the quality infrastructure improves across the continent, better African products will emerge, winning more buyers from within Africa and beyond, and making increased inter-African trade and increased African share of world trade a big reality.

    When this happens, Nigeria would certainly benefit. A Quality Management Practitioner and National President, Association of Systems Management Consultants, Mazi Colman Obasi, said for instance, Nigeria’s lack of a national quality infrastructure is responsible for its damaging economy and brand reputation.

    A national quality infrastructure is a system of institutions, which jointly ensure that products and services produced in the country meet predefined specifications. It also provides technical support to companies so they can improve their production processes and ensure compliance with regulations or international requirements.

    Obasi lamentedthat lack of quality infrastructure is not only partly responsible for Nigeria’s rising unemployment, but its remaining globally competitive. “Until we have many companies that are accredited with ISO 9000 management systems certification, we are not going anywhere; we cannot export anything,” he said, insisting that the country should work towards having a quality management plan.

    Obasi called on the authorities to fast-track the establishment of a National Quality Policy (NQP). Without NQP, Nigeria’s standardisation efforts will continue to look uncoordinated and unclear. NQP’s objective is to make quality the way of life in Nigeria. It will define the apex standardisation institution in the country; clarify the boundaries for each of the regulatory agencies; minimise conflict between them; enhance cooperation between them; and identify existing as well as needed infrastructure as well as chart its own implementation.

    Obasi said: ”Quality is number one. It is the first thing that ought to be considered as the nation focuses on building a robust export-based economy.” He regretted that despite being acknowledged globally as one of the largest consumer markets, Nigeria is yet to be accredited by the International Accreditation Forum (IAF), the regulatory arm of the ISO.

    The expert said countries such as South Africa, Egypt, Tunisia, Kenya and Mauritius have since been accredited by the IAF, in line with global emphasis on quality. According to him, for Nigeria to be accredited by IAF, it must have in place an NQI which refers to all aspects of metrology, standardisation, testing, quality management, certification and accreditation that have a bearing on conformity assessment.

    Estimates by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the United States (U.S.) Department of Commerce show that standards and related conformity assessment (checking that products and services measure up to standards) have an impact on 80 per cent of global trade in commodities. The World Trade Organisation (WTO) requires its members to use international standards of the type developed by ISO to avoid the technical barriers to trade owing to differing national or regional standards.

    At present, products and services manufactured in the country lack global quality certification. They are denied access to markets in developed economies, a situation that has been a pain in the neck of manufacturers, as their productivity and competitiveness continue to suffer. According to experts, standardisation will boost the competitiveness of locally made products at the international market and ensure the global acceptance of products and services from Nigeria.

    This is true for Nigeria considering the fact that her manufacturing sector is still emerging, depending almost totally on other countries for her supplies of manufactured products. The nation does not have much to offer other than raw materials and that makes the people the poorest in the world. Cocoa, rubber, shear butter, petroleum, iron ore and other commodities go cheap from Africa and once the other continent has processed them into secondary or tertiary products such as beverages, pharmaceuticals, shoes and machines, Nigerians buy them at a huge cost.

  • Cement standardisation: What’s in it for consumers?

    Cement standardisation: What’s in it for consumers?

    Even before the dust raised by the new standard for cement finally settles down, the policy, which pitched the regulatory authorities against some manufacturers, has opened more latitude and prerogative of choice to consumers. It has also drawn attention to grey areas hitherto neglected in the nation’s quest to find lasting solution to construction failures and building collapse, Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie reports.

    Until recently, the level of consumer awareness in Nigeria’s burgeoning building and construction industry remained abysmally low. It could not have been otherwise. The industry was an all-comers affair, parading mostly non-professionals in building and construction. Low quality building materials were also common place, while the right application of vital raw materials was disregarded. In most cases, materials particularly cement, are misapplied. Yet, cement is the binding agent, constituting over 60 per cent of the components in building and construction, according to experts.

    Because of the low level of awareness of builders, block moulders, masons, artisans, and others directly involved in building and construction, knowledge of the various grades of cement and their application was not a priority. As far as some of the builders are concerned, cement is cement, no matter the grade. The fact that there were no means of identification of the various grades of cement in the market compounded their problem.

    Consumers of cement products were no less confused. Most of them were not even aware of the variety in grades, standards and specific applications of cement. What most people are aware of are the brand names, whereas the grades or standards are equally important.Using a lower grade of cement where a higher grade ought to have been used was common place due to ignorance on the part of consumers and artisans as well as greed. “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,” the Director General of Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Dr. Joseph Odumodu, noted, at a recent forum.

    But things are changing, and quickly too. Today, consumers know what grade of cement they are buying, its most appropriate application, average shelf life, who manufactured it, and how it should be stored. They know that each grade of cement is used for a specific purpose, depending largely on the compressive strength they desire. For instance, while the 32.5 grade is exclusively for plastering, the 42.5 grade is used for casting of beams, slabs, and block moulding. The 52.5 grade, on the other hand, is used for construction of hard infrastructure projects like bridges, flyovers, high rise buildings, and other specialised applications. The increasing consumer awareness is believed to be one of the dividends of the recent review of cement standard by SON.

    The standard regulatory/enforcement agency recently came out with a policy that reviewed the standard of cement, classified it into three grades of 32.5, 42.5 and 52.5 and stipulated their exclusive uses. The move was part of efforts towards eliminating the menace of building collapse. In coming out with the new policy, SON’s technical committee consulted widely with stakeholders from all sectors including the Nigeria Society of Engineers (COREN), Universities, researchers, builders, block makers towards fashioning a suitable cement standard regime. The stakeholders agreed to streamline cement types, with the aforementioned grades.

    Consequently, SON warned members of the public to adhere strictly to the stipulated application of cement types and save the nation the embarrassment of incessant structure failures. In handing down the warning, Odumodu however, clarified that there are no substandard cements in the country. He said the challenge was more of misapplication of cement rather than the quality of cement used. The DG informed audience at a recent ‘Stakeholders Forum’ in Abuja that the agency was determined to ensure standards because the several incidences of building collapse in the country has gotten to an embarrassing level.

    “A recent test conducted on cement blocks in Nigeria, especially the load bearing ones, made a revelation that only five per cent of the blocks met the specifications of the Nigerian Industrial Standards (NIS 587 of 2007). “We believe that any factor that contributed in any way to building collapse should be addressed. Load bearing blocks happen to be one of them and that is what we are addressing”, Odumodu said.

    Although, there is no compelling evidence yet linking poor quality cement to the increasing menace of building collapse, the consensus of industry experts is that sticking to the new classification of cement based on their exclusive uses would, at least, narrow the search for the causes of building collapse to other factors. What SON is doing therefore, is to eliminate any possibility of building collapse that might arise from the misapplication of cement.

    The agency took the campaign to eliminate opportunity for product misuse by giving cement manufacturers 60-days window to ensure that cement bags carry proper product information such as batch number, expiry date, and colour code. Today, consumers can differentiate the various grades of cement by their unique colour stripes, namely blue for 32.5 grade; yellow for 42.5 grade and red for 52.5. Unlike in the past when there were no means of identification, the review mandates manufacturers to clearly label the grade on the cement bags and their applications before they get to the market.

    While the batch number was to enhance product traceability, the expiry date was necessary because components of are chemicals that do expire. For one, this has boosted consumers’ confidence, even as the increased patronage is expected to lead to increased capacity utilisation. Experts also say that expansion in commercial activities with regards to cement manufacturing will lead to job creation. Besides, the new regime would enhance the cement industry’s global competitiveness. Apart from providing export opportunities to cement produced locally, it will enhance foreign exchange earning in addition to boosting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).

    Despite the obvious positive spin-offs of cement standardisation, the policy has not gone down well with some manufacturers, most of who argue that the move would not only lead to increase in the price of cement, but also result in its scarcity. Some of them argue that it would be difficult for some manufacturers to respond to the new requirement in the production lines. Those advancing this position include Lafarge WAPCO, United Cement Company of Nigeria (UNICEM) and Ashaka Cement. They are kicking that restricting the use of 32.5 grade of cement to plastering only amounts to an indirect ban on the product, which they say, is unacceptable.

    However, while some manufacturers are kicking, cement giant Dangote Cement has since announced its readiness to comply 100 per cent with SON’s new regulation. The companyonly produced the higher grades of 42.5 and 52.5 from all its three plants in Obajana, Kogi state; Gboko, Benue state; and Ibese in Ogun state. while Dangote has 42.5 as its lower grade, some other competitors only produce 32.5 grade and sold at almost the same price as Dangote’s higher grade. This prompted the company’s distributors and customers who have been enjoying its top range products to clamour for more range of products.

    Partly in a bid to offer consumers alternatives for various construction needs, and partly in full compliance with the directive of SON on the various grades of cement and their prescribed uses, Dangote cement announced plans to launch its brand of the premium 32.5 cement grade. According to the Group Managing Director, Dangote Cement, Devakumar Edwin, the 32.5 grade, which has the lowest strength among the various cement products will be priced lower than the others and will be selling at N200 lower than the price of the higher strength 42.5 grade. “This in addition offers our numerous customers and end users the prerogative of choice and its appropriate application,” he said, at a media briefing in Lagos.

    The new product, which has been branded ‘Dangote Cement 1X’, Edwin stated, was in response to popular demand from the customers as well as in full compliance with the SON directive encouraging production of all grades of cement but with clear labelling on the use. He noted that the entrance of the 32.5 cement grade from Dangote would ensure that the consumer pays the appropriate price for the right value rather than paying more for lower grade as is presently the case in the market. He said the 32.5 cement grade would be clearly marked in the colour prescribed by SON with the uses for which it should be applied, which is purely for plastering.

    The company also announced that it was significantly increasing the supply of cement to the market. This must be music in the ears of consumers. For one, the enhancement in supply of the product to the market is expected to result to a reasonable reduction in the price of the product. Dangote cement also raised the adrenalin of consumers following Edwin’s disclosure that its nationwide campaign and capacity building, which it initiated and has sustained for the past three years to ensure that the different grades of cement are easily identified by users and used only for their prescribed purposes, would be intensified.

    It was not an empty promise. The cement giant had since embarked on an aggressive enlightenment programme on several radio stations across the country  to educate and inform the public on the benefits of using  Dangote 42.5 3X Cement in their construction works. The enlightenment programme and public awareness campaign, according to the Director, Sales & Marketing, Dangote cement, Mr. Chux Mogbolu had become necessary as research has shown that most cement users in Nigeria cannot differentiate between the various grades of cement and their uses hence leading to application of lower cement grade where higher grade cement  should have been used. Mogbolu said that because of the abysmal level of knowledge among artisans, block makers, masons and other craftsmen in the building industry, use of 32.5 grade cement in block making and house building has resulted in several cases of building collapse. He insisted that 32.5 be restricted to plastering and finishing. The Director enjoined the public to always buy Dangote cement, as they will be buying peace of mind and will build with peace of mind. He added that the quality of products from the cement company ensures that customers always come back why the goods do not come back. On its part, SON has also intensified its enlightenment programme. The agency has been organising workshops to sensitize builders, block moulders, artisans etc on acceptable practices such as use of the right type and quality of building materials. Formal trainings are being organised block moulders and artisans to orient them on quality practice and safety standards in the industry, while equipping them with requisite skills and knowledge. Consumers and members of the public are also benefiting from the agency’s active engagement of the media, as well as collaboration with industry groups, trade associations, and partner agencies.

  • Case for cement standardisation

    While the incidence of building collapses increases, same set of manufacturers and experts come up with new themes on how to explain away the shortcomings of the building sector. They bring up new ways to curb these incidences, organize seminars to sensitize the general public, blame substandard and shoddy planning, absolves the sector of blame (shifting it to a few bad, unregistered eggs) while, as usual in Nigeria, we move on and several more buildings join the queue. Maybe it is a conspiracy; maybe not!

    Without mincing words, the standards we have come to assume for buildings have come from proselytized views milking our ignorance. For someone like me who have never taken the ‘cement talk’ very serious except for the price conspiracy, it is important to share my newfound understanding. To some, it will be elucidative while to others – who understand a thing or two about it – it will support whatever knowledge they already have. Let’s shoot!

    What exactly is Cement? “Cement is a fine, gray powder which sets after a few hours when mixed with water, and then hardens in a few days into a solid, strong material.” Cement is made from the mixture of heated limestone, sand, clay and/or shale. Its usage as the major component in constructions means it has to be subjected to strict standards with each individual type/grade used according to the prescribed standards.

    There are several types of cements with needs dictating their usage for specific purposes. Ultratech Concrete lists the types  of cement as Ordinary Portland Cement 32.5, 42.53, 52.5 grade (OPC); 53-S (Sleeper Cement); Portland Pozzolana Cement (PPC), both Fly Ash and Calcined Clay based; Rapid Hardening Portland Cement; Portland Slag Cement (PSC); Sulphate Resisting Portland Cement (SRC); Low Heat Portland Cement; and Hydrophobic Cement.

    Here, we are majorly concerned with the OPC and its three main grades namely 32.5, 42.5 and 52.5 as they are mostly used in construction. It is important to note that one cannot say a certain grade or type of cement is the best because usage, construction environment, construction method, nature of work to be done etc. dictate the best type of cement to be used in constructions. Each type of cement has to be chosen based on usage.

    The 32.5 grade OPC is suitable for general concrete works, block making and plastering where the structures are not taken to very high stresses. According to GharExpert, “It is not suitable where ‘Sulphate’ is in the soil or in the ground water”. 42.5 grade OPC on the other hand is notably “used in general civil engineering construction work i.e. brick masonry, plastering, pointing, flooring and in RCC Work”. 52.5 is used where high early strength in the first 28 days is required and it is basically utilized by builders of heavy infrastructure such as bridges, fly overs, large span structures and high rise structures where such structures take on high tensile strength.

    There has been a raging storm in the country recently due to the request by professionals for Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) to standardize the cement market. Cement is not cement as we were made to believe. There are instances where 32.5 grade OPC (that several professionals are bandying against) is the best; there are also situations where cement much lower in strength than 32.5 grade OPC is advised. Such examples are majorly in non-structural usage like masonry and plastering mortals.

    The unique Nigerian terrain also ought to be considered. Here is where I identify with and accept these clamours. In a country where adherence to standardization is not a common language, where professionals and hired supervisors cut corners to maximize profit, it is important to have minimum cement grade strength. With all the seminars and sensitization campaigns that have gone into this exercise in the past, the result of such aggressive campaigns have not been seen as most building engineers resort to the cheapest grade in the market for building projects they are not suitable for.

    The Nigerian businessman is profit oriented. Profit is his first worry and as such, having two minimum grade strength of cement encourages him to prioritize profit by plucking for the cheapest which in most cases is ill-suitable for the construction he intends to embark on. Here is where SON’s 42.5 grade OPC standard makes the most sense. As we can see in the different usages highlighted earlier on, the 42.5 grade can effectively substitute in most cases where we may require the 32.5 grade.

    As a template in the Nigeria terrain, policies are not what we lack but the required will to effectively make these policies work. How do we enforce the 42.5 grade strength when all the needs of standardization have been taken care of? Who enforces standardization in manufacturing plants? Who supervises building constructions to ensure that the policy on right grades are adhered to (test case is our aviation industry where we still struggle with enforcement)? Are there plans to involve insurance companies (to request for all standardization documents before insuring a building)? Should we be afraid that it would go the way of everything else in Nigeria, where with enough cash; you get all required documents irrespective of adherence to laid down rules or policy thrust?

    We should all understand that cement standardization is the first step in a long list of procedures aimed at stopping the incidences of building collapses that must be taken serious. The government shouldn’t go to sleep thinking the job is done with standardization as the real war on misapplication of standards starts then. The public must be effectively enlightened on the new standards; made to understand that this policy is about safeguarding their lives and properties and as such must buy wholly into it.

    Remember that in building and construction, it is SAFETY FIRST! All other considerations follow.

     

    • Olajiga lives in Lagos.