The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has shut two steel-manufacturing factories in Ikorodu for producing substandard iron rods.

The SON task force team stormed the factories in Ikorodu on Tuesday and found four trucks loaded with substandard rods.

In a statement, the president of Iron Rod Distributors Association of Nigeria (IRDAN), Gbenga Awoyale, commended the task force’s efforts.

Mr Awoyale said that the team traced the substandard products to a distributor’s store in Alimosho.

He added, ”We are elated to be informed about the sealing of the factories in Ikorodu, where the substandard steel products traced to a distributor’s store in Alimosho was manufactured.

”It reaffirms our confidence in SON to spare no efforts in sanitising the manufacturing sector and ensure Nigerians have access to only quality products.

”While commending the unusual stride of the SON, we further demand justice for millions of Nigerian consumers of these substandard products by prosecuting the culprits.”

Speaking further, Mr Awoyale stated, ”This will serve as a deterrent to other manufacturers who form the habit of producing substandard steel with no effort for Nigerian markets while producing high-quality products for exports.”

He explained that the owner of the two factories, being the biggest steel manufacturers in the country, often dictated the pace in the sector in Nigeria.

Mr Awoyale urged SON’s director-general to assure Nigerians that the culprits will be prosecuted

(NAN)