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LAGOS: SON shut down steel manufacturing factory

TWO factories in Ikorodu, Lagos State have been ordered closed by the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) on an inspection tour.

The steel manufacturing factories were sealed upon close examination by SON, as it was discovered that the Iron rods produced were alleged to be substandard.

According to reports, the taskforce stormed the African Steel Mill Nigeria Limited factory and African Foundries Limited, Ikorodu. On their arrival at the steel mill, they met four trucks loaded with substandard products among other empty trucks. The loaded trucks were unloaded immediately.

The President of the Iron Rod Distributors Association of Nigeria (IRDAN), Gbenga Awoyale, commended the SON team, adding that the team had actually trailed the substandard products from a distributor’s store at Alimosho.

Awoyale said, “We are elated to be informed about the sealing of the factories in Ikorodu. It reaffirms our confidence in SON to spear no efforts in sanitising the manufacturing sector and ensure Nigerians have access to only quality products.”

He further requested that the defaulters and consumers of such sub-standard product should be brought to book.

The SON ensured that the companies do a rework on the products by melting and reproducing the iron rods to the specific standards.

The Director-General/CEO of the organisation, Farouk Salim, had recently commended his staff over the actions taken against economic saboteurs, who he said distributed substandard steel products into Nigerian markets.

According to IRDAN, the owners of the two sealed factories, being amongst the biggest steel manufacturers in the country, often times dictate the pace for the sector.

The association therefore appealed to the DG to dissuade detractors from the dastardly act and ensure that ‘SON Act 14 of 2015’ be strictly adhered to thereby assuring Nigerians that no one is above the law.

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