Building collapse: Tinubu urged to sign law criminalising sub-standard products

Distributors of iron and steel in the country, under the aegis of the Iron Rod and Steel Distributors Employers Union of Nigeria (IRSDEUN) has called on President Bola Tinubu to sign into law a bill criminalizing production and distribution of substandard products, especially, iron rods and steels in Nigeria.

Speaking with the Tribune, the national president of the union, Chief Gbenga Awoyale, said that the step would bring an end to rising cases of building collapses that have claimed innocent lives across the country.

Awoyale, who expressed disappointment in the activities of the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) in overseeing building material production, said that the attitude had left Nigerian markets saturated with substandard products.

“Nigerians now use hard-earned money to buy low-quality materials that endanger their lives as the only option available for the common man”

Awoyale cited recent building collapses, including a three-storey building collapse in Ojodu-Berger, Lagos state, on April 19, 2025, which killed one person, and a two-storey building collapse in Lekki, which killed two persons. He noted that these incidents are just a few of the many disasters that have claimed hundreds of lives in 2025 alone.

“The Federal Government and the National Assembly need to urgently take proactive measures to criminalize any act that contributes to these unfortunate incidents that kill our people almost daily”, Awoyale said.

“Lives are being lost due to avoidable menaces, but it’s unfortunate our leaders seem unperturbed, even though the security of people’s lives and property should be their topmost priority”.

Awoyale, said that the House of Representatives passed a bill in 2023 to repeal the Standards Organisation of Nigeria Act, No.14 of 2015 and enact a new one, which includes criminalizing substandard product production and distribution, and imposing a five-year custodial sentence without an option of fine on persons convicted, added that the bill also proposes publishing life-endangering products annually and increasing fines.

“In 2024, the Senate and House of Representatives have had debates on curbing substandard products, but unfortunately, they are not backed by actions”.

“Before now, substandard products were circulated overnight, but these days, they deliver them in our markets in broad daylight, as if we are in a lawless society. Mr. President, please come to Nigerians’ rescue; the death toll from building collapses should be enough”

“In saner climes, even smaller countries to Nigeria like Cotonou and Benin Republic, they take the issue of standardization of building and other products seriously, because they value the lives of their citizens. Any country that is not alarmed by substandard product infiltration does not care about the lives of its citizens. So, we have had enough of lip services being paid to this. Decisive actions must be taken immediately”, he said.

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