FG sets up committee to review cement quality standard

Federal government has set up a technical committee to review the quality of cement produced in the country. This is with a view to redefining the appropriate standard of cement to be produced in the country. Reacting to criticism that Standard Organisation of Nigeria, SON has relaxed its earlier standard of 42.5 as minimum grade for cement used in the country to 32.5, Director General of SON Mr Joseph Odumodu said that a committee was already at work to review the current standard and weigh the implication and impact of the removal of the 32.5 on the economy and price of cement in the country.

He said that the committee started sitting in December urging that civil society group should be part of the committee to see first hand how the standards are set. Odumodu who had an interaction with business editors said the committee of well-informed individuals would take a holistic look on the quality of building materials in the country inclusive of cement, saying the agency had never, and would never leave the quality of any product to the whims of any individual or operators.

He however stated that issue of standardsisation could not be left in the hands of any agency alone, adding that standardization is life and affects everyone in the society. According to him, also necessary in the efforts is the input of other stakeholders in the country including related regulatory agencies, civil society groups, manufacturers, the  academia and  consumers. 'This technical committee is not chaired by SON, we are just a secretariat and it is what the committee arrives at that would be taken to the council of SON and once it is approved, it becomes a standard. Vanguard