Crisis over new cement standard

Fresh crisis is brewing the introduction of new standard as three cement manufacturing companies, Lafarge Cement WAPCO, Ashaka Cement and Unicem have instituted different suits against the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) over its recent pronouncement and plan to implement a new Mandatory Industrial Standard Order for cement manufacturing,distribution and usage in the country.

SON had restricted the application of 50kg 32.5R grade of cement to plastering only.

The cement companies said they have informed the Director General of the SON Joseph Odumodu and Minister of Trade and Investment Segun Aganga and all parties to allow the matter to be resolved through the courts.

However the cement manufacturing companies are challenging SON authority, “which they believe is to all intents and purposes, aimed at the gradual phasing out of 32.5 cement grade, which has been widely known and used as general purpose cement from the market.”

The cement manufacturers are seeking the court to establish whether or not SON have complied with the mandatory provisions of the law for establishing new industrial standard in the introduction of the Commodity Composition and Conformity Criteria for Common Cements and Specification of Mandatory Industrial Standard NIS 444-1 2014.

The companies are seeking through the courts, a declaration that the introduction of the Commodity Composition and Conformity Criteria for Common Cements and Specification of Mandatory Industrial Standard NIS 444-1 2014 by SON without complying with the clear and mandatory provisions of the SON Act 2004 and other existing laws for doing so is unlawful, null and void.

“They are also seeking an order of the court restraining SON, their agents, privies and whosoever purporting to act through the Respondents from enforcing and implementing the Mandatory Industrial Standard NIS 444-1 2014.”