The House of Representatives on Tuesday unveiled plans to investigate the activities of the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) over the reversal of its decision to shut down 18 companies found wanting in the production and distribution of substandard building materials, particularly iron rod manufacturers.
The resolution was passed following the adoption of a motion of Urgent Public Importance on the need to prevent recurring deaths of citizens due to building collapses in Nigeria, sponsored by Hon. Billy Osawaru.
In his lead debate, Hon. Osawaru noted that the frequent occurrence of building collapses in Nigeria has been attributed to the use of substandard materials, poor construction practices, and inadequate enforcement of building codes by authorities.
“The House also notes that, according to data from the Building Collapse Prevention Guild, Nigeria recorded 47 building collapses across 14 states in 2024, with Lagos State accounting for about 56% of them through 13 incidents, followed by Abuja with 4.37%, having recorded six collapse incidents.
“The House is aware that the Standard Organisation of Nigeria is responsible for, among other duties, conducting investigations into the quality of facilities, materials, and products in Nigeria and establishing a quality assurance system, including certification of factories, products, and laboratories.
“The House is concerned that the persistent issue of substandard materials has led to numerous fatalities. It is regrettable to note that at least three buildings collapsed in different states in January 2025 alone, resulting in several deaths and casualties. This is a clear indication that the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has not done enough to prevent further occurrences.
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“The House is also concerned that studies have revealed that poor-quality materials and cheap labor contributed to about 53% of building collapses in Nigeria, with most incidents involving private residential buildings executed by indigenous companies and local contractors.
“The House is worried that the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) allegedly reversed its decision to shut down 18 companies implicated in the production and distribution of substandard building materials, particularly iron rod manufacturers.
“The reversal, reportedly influenced by the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment, has sparked criticism from various quarters, raising concerns about the government’s commitment to enforcing quality standards in the construction industry.
“The House is also worried that defaulting companies responsible for producing substandard building materials, especially iron rods, exploit weak enforcement mechanisms in Nigeria to flood the market with inferior products while exporting high-quality materials to countries where substandard goods are not tolerated,” he stated.
To this end, the House mandated the Standard Organisation of Nigeria to eliminate fake products and substandard building materials, ensuring it fulfills its duties by maintaining the required quality standards in the market.
The House also directed its Committees on Industry and Trade to investigate allegations regarding SON’s reversal of its decision to shut down 18 companies found wanting in the production and distribution of substandard building materials, particularly iron rod manufacturers, and report back within four legislative weeks.
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