By Felix Khanoba
The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has called on concrete poles manufacturers to fully adhere strictly to the stipulated standard in pole’s production or be ready to face the full wrath of the law.
The Organisation, which frowned at unfair trade practice and cutting of corners being exhibited by some manufacturers of the products, said it will not turn a blind eye to compromise of quality.
Director General of SON, Osita Aboloma Esq., who stated this at a forum organised by the Organisation in Owerri, Imo State, enjoined manufacturers to comply with the requirements of the Nigerian Industrial Standards NIS 586:2007 to guarantee the quality of their products and value for money to consumers.
A statement made available to The AUTHORITY in Abuja and signed by Bola Fashina, Head Public Relations of SON, said Aboloma, who was represented at the event by the Imo State Coordinator of SON, Engr. Rose Madaki, expressed displeasure that many manufacturers in Imo State were not adhering to stipulated standard.
He listed some of the sharp practices to include; using 32.5grade of cement instead of 42.5grade specified in the standard; having more than one joint in one bar line on longitudinal reinforcement against the specification in the standard.
Others are; using 10mm as reinforcement bar for High Tension (HT) mould instead of 12mm minimum specified in the standard and reduction in length of poles to 8.35m for Low Tension (LT) instead of 8.53m minimum and 10.05m for HT instead of 10.40m minimum specified in the standard and failure to cure poles for 28days after production to obtain optimum strength as required by the standard before sale.
Speaking further, Aboloma reiterated SON’s commitment to providing standards and quality assurance services for all products, services and processes in Nigeria in line with the international best practices and to ensure continual improvement.
He said the mission of SON is to promote consumer confidence and global competitiveness of Nigerian products and services through standardisation and quality assurance.
