Stakeholders in the housing development on Thursday sought collaboration with the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) in fighting the influx of substandard building materials to the markets
The request was made during the “Material Session Day’’ at the ongoing Lagos Housing Fair.
They observed that the large quantity of substandard building materials in the market was an indication that SON was losing its battle against substandard products in the country.
Mr Bashir Asimiyu, the Vice Chairman, Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB), Lagos Chapter, said that SON needed to rekindle hope in Nigerians by invigorating the fight against substandard materials.
According to him, SON should collaborate with professionals in the industry to get rid of substandard materials.
“SON needs to rekindle hope in Nigerians and need to re-strategise on how to combat the problem of substandard goods from within and outside Nigeria.
“It should collaborate with all relevant professional bodies in the built environment in getting rids of pretenders in the industry.
“The cheapest good may not likely give you the quality you deserve,’’ he said.
Mr Mayegun Ogunsanya, the Chairman, Lagos State Association of Building Artisans of Nigeria (ASBAN), accused the SON of being the major headache for the artisans in fighting substandard building materials.
He said SON was not doing much to prevent the influx of substandard materials in the market.
He blamed incidence of collapse building and fire outbreak to substandard materials.
Prof. Motayo Adeolu, a retired town planning lecturer, said that the organisation needed to step up its monitoring activities with a view to reducing incidences of fake products in the market.
According to him, houses built many years are still functional and that there is no reason why those good-old-days cannot be replicated in the sector.
Mr Ade Omopeloye, President, Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers, challenged SON to live up to expectation by preventing the influx of substandard building materials into the market.
He said that SON should work with building professionals to assist in the fight against substandard products in the market.
According to him, in addition to the imported ones the local manufacturers should be monitored to ensure that they produce to specification.
Mr Femi Shodunke, the Vice Chairman, Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA), Lagos Chapter, said that building artisans should engage the service of a professional on their building site.
“This way when a substandard product is brought to the site, a professional will be able to dictate and insist using standard materials,’’ he said.
He said that it was the only way by which substandard materials could be checked and with the collaboration of SON such products could be referred to them for action.
?