Consumer Safety: SON restates importance of certified building materials, regulatory compliance

*The Standards Organisation of Nigeria, in the wake of the recent building collapse in Gwarimpa, Abuja, urged all Nigerians, especially the authorities responsible for approvals and regulations, to adhere to approved standards in order to save lives and properties of consumers

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

Against the backdrop of recent increasing cases of building collapse, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has attributed the negative development to poor regulation, infiltration of substandard building materials, and non-compliance with laid down rules in the building sector.

ConsumerConnect reports the regulatory agency said Malam Farouk Salim, Director-General/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SON, stated this at the site of the recent devastating collapse of a two-story building at Gwarimpa, in Abuja, FCT.

Addressing reporters at the scene of the incident, Malam Salim, represented by Mr. Ishaku M. Gamagira, SON Coordinator in ICT, noted that the organisation had commenced an investigation by taking samples of building materials from the site for laboratory test and analysis.

The Director-General described the incident as “avoidable and one collapse too many.”

He, therefore, urged the public to be vigilant when buying products, and to ensure that such products are certified by the standards body to avoid related mishaps.

Speaking at the scene also, Mr. Saleh Babaji, Director of SON, North-Central Operations, commiserated with the families of the dead and injured ones.

Babaji also urged all Nigerians, especially the authorities responsible for approvals and regulations, to adhere to approved standards in discharging their duties in order to save lives and property of consumers.

The SON Director assured the public that the standards regulator would conduct a thorough investigation, in regard to its mandate and abundance of competence in such investigations.

The Organisation as well advocated continuous collaborations between the relevant government agencies and all Nigerians to deliver on its mandate to the country.