The House of Representatives has decided to investigate allegations against the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) over its reported reversal of a decision to shut down 18 companies involved in producing and distributing substandard building materials, particularly iron rods.
This decision was made on Tuesday following the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Edo lawmaker, Mr. Billy Osawaru.
Osawaru, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), urged the House to push SON to take stricter measures in eliminating fake building materials from the Nigerian market and ensuring that only quality products are available nationwide.
He expressed deep concern over the frequent cases of building collapses in Nigeria, which he attributed to substandard materials, weak regulatory enforcement, and poor construction practices.
Citing statistics from the Building Collapse Prevention Guild, Osawaru noted that Nigeria recorded 47 building collapses across 14 states in 2024. Lagos State had the highest number, accounting for 56 percent of the incidents with 13 cases, while Abuja followed with 4.37 percent, recording six collapses.
He lamented that the use of low-quality materials has led to numerous deaths, adding that at least three buildings have collapsed in different states since January 2025, causing fatalities and injuries.
“This is a clear indication that the Standards Organisation of Nigeria has not done enough to prevent further occurrences.
“Study has revealed that poor quality of materials and cheap labour contributed about 53 percent of building collapses in Nigeria, with most of them being private residential buildings executed by indigenous companies and locals.
“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 different quarters, raising concern over government’s commitment to enforcing quality standards in the construction industry.
“The alleged defaulted companies responsible for the production of substandard building materials, especially iron, hide under the weak enforcement mechanisms in Nigeria to flood the market with inferior products while exporting high-quality materials to countries where substandard products are not tolerated,” he said.
