Oyo, SON Partner to Curb Substandard Steel Products, Promote Industrial Safety

Oyo, SON Partner to Curb Substandard Steel Products, Promote Industrial Safety

The Oyo State Government has announced plans to deepen its collaboration with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) in a renewed effort to combat the circulation of substandard steel and iron rods in the market and ensure public safety.

The Commissioner for Investment, Trade, Cooperatives, and Industry, Hon. Adeniyi Adebisi, made this known while receiving a delegation from SON, led by the Special Assistant to the Director General on Strategic Support, Mr. Manji Pius, at his office in the State Secretariat, Ibadan.

Adebisi emphasized that the partnership would enhance quality assurance, industrial regulation, and sustainable economic development across the state.

He explained that the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde has prioritized enforcing building and engineering standards to protect lives and properties, adding that the State Government aligns fully with SON’s mission to strengthen industrial integrity nationwide.

“We appreciate the efforts of SON, especially in addressing issues that affect the safety and confidence of our people. The Ministry is ready to work closely with you to ensure that substandard products are completely eradicated from our market,” Adebisi said.

He urged SON to consider Oyo State as the preferred location for its proposed laboratory complex, noting the state’s industrial potential and its strategic position as a major manufacturing and trade hub in the South-West.

According to the Commissioner, “Made-in-Oyo” products have continued to attract national and international attention, citing the 2025 Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) in Algiers, Algeria, where locally produced goods from Oyo State drew significant foreign interest.

Adebisi stressed that maintaining product quality and compliance with standards would further strengthen the competitiveness of local manufacturers in global markets.

He assured that the Ministry would support SON’s expansion plans once a formal request for land allocation is made, noting that the establishment of a SON facility in Ibadan would boost regulatory efficiency, attract investment, and promote consumer protection.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Olajide Mamud Okesade, described the collaboration as crucial for industrial growth and public safety. He pledged that the Ministry would work closely with SON through a joint technical committee to develop strategies for quality monitoring, standard enforcement, and public sensitization.

In his remarks, Mr. Manji Pius, Special Assistant to the SON Director General, explained that the visit was part of the agency’s national campaign to eliminate low-quality steel products, which have been linked to the rising incidents of building collapses across Nigeria.

“Our investigations revealed that over 85 percent of building collapses in Nigeria are connected to the use of undersized or low-quality reinforcement bars,” he disclosed.

Pius noted that the SON Act No. 14 of 2015 empowers the organization to set and enforce standards for all manufactured and imported products in the country, including construction materials.

He added that SON conducts regular inspections and enforcement exercises to ensure that only products meeting the Nigerian Industrial Standard (NIS 117) are allowed in the market.

Pius further highlighted that strict adherence to product standards is essential for Nigeria’s effective participation in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), as only goods that meet national and continental standards qualify for regional trade.

He appealed for the Oyo State Government’s support in providing land for the construction of a SON office and laboratory in Ibadan to strengthen regulatory capacity across the South-West region.

The visit, according to both parties, underscores their shared vision to promote industrial excellence, safeguard lives and property, and enhance consumer confidence in Oyo State and Nigeria at large.