Worried by the spate of building collapse across the country due to substandard materials, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) raided three steel manufacturing companies over the weekend.
A team of officials from the commission led by the Acting Executive Vice Chairman, Dr Adamu Abdullahi, visited African Foundries, Ogijo; Monarch Steel Mill Limited, Sagamu; and Kam Steel Integrated Company, Sagamu, all in Ogun State, to investigate alleged manufacturing of substandard iron rods.
Addressing the press after the enforcement exercise, the FCCPC boss said the raid was to ascertain compliance with standards in the delivery of their products.
His words: “Essentially we got an intelligence and surveillance report that the companies in question are involved in anti competitive behavior and that is the reason why we come to the three companies to see what they do and get reports from them, look at the end of product that comes from their system here.
“There is a false, misleading, deceptive as well as unfair practice going on. You go into the market and buy an iron rod of 12mm for instance and what they produce is 10mm, not 12mm and this is the main reason that led to building collapse.
“So we are talking here about the issue of safety of our people and that is one of the core of consumer protection, to ensure the safety of our populace. And what is happening in the building industry is not something that has been palatable, it’s worrisome to the government.
“We have to look at their process and find out if they are cutting any corners and if they are, we will apply the wrath of the law.
The FCCPC boss, however, emphasised that the raid was a fact finding mission and none of the companies have been found liable yet.
“The inspection is inconclusive. We are still at the information gathering stage. After which we have to go back to our office and allow forensic experts to look at the information that we returned with.
“What they will take out from all the materials we have gathered will then guide our findings. We will do our best to conclude in as little time as possible,” he stated.
SOURCE: VANGUARD
About The Author
