By Felix Khanoba
The management of African Steel Limited has debunked some reports making the rounds in a section of the media on the purported shut down of its Ikorodu Steel Factory by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON).
In a statement obtained by The AUTHORITY on Friday, the company attributed the fake report to the handiwork of some competitors who thrive on gaining an advantage through unfair business practices, adding that there was no issue of standards infractions in the factory.
The statement, signed by Ravi Sharma, said officials of SON recently visited the premises of African Steel, Ikorodu in the course of their regulatory oversight, took inventory of already manufactured steel products, and took samples for further regulatory processes with proper documentation.
“The company is aware that similar regulatory steps were undertaken by SON on the premises of other steel manufacturers across the country,” it said, stressing that, at no time did SON officials shut down the African Steel Limited premises in Ikorodu.
While saying African Steel Limited is a member of the African Industries Group, which commits to the highest ethical standards in all its operations in Nigeria and across the globe, Sharma said : “We therefore assure our numerous customers of quality products at all times and advise them to ignore the untrue publications.”
He further restated the group’s commitment to upholding the highest standards of its manufactured products and providing services that conform with all regulatory requirements in view of its huge investment in the Nigerian economy, which includes an integrated iron ore mining, processing, and steel production plant located in Kajuru, Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State, with a capital outlay in the region of $600 million.
Commenting on the SON’s most recent regulatory activity in the steel sector, Director of Product Certification, Engr. Enebi Onucheyo, corroborated the African Steel narrative and confirmed that neither the facilities of the company nor those of any other steel manufacturer were shut down in the latest exercise.
“Rather, spot inspections were carried out, inventories and samples were taken, and products were kept on hold with proper documentation to enable SON conduct laboratory tests and analysis in order to arrive at informed conclusions in line with our organisation’s standards operating procedure,” he said.
According to him, the SON nationwide regulatory action was part of routine exercises usually carried out periodically without notice, to checkmate the production and circulation of substandard iron rods in the Nigerian markets.
Engr. Onucheyo stated that the management of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria is determined to clamp down on standards infractions in all sectors of the economy, with particular emphasis on products classified as life-endangering. Such infractions will be duly prosecuted in line with the provisions in the SON Act and other extant laws of the nation, he said.
The SON Director of Product Certification then called on stakeholders to continue to share valuable information on product standards and safety with SON and other regulatory authorities in the overall interest of the nation’s economy and the wellbeing of its citizens.
