Ending the cement grade war
For some time now, a war has been raging in the rapidly growing cement manufacturing business over product standardisation. The war begun in the early part of the year when a coalition of civil society groups alleged that grade 32.5 cement was largely responsible for building collapses common in many parts of the country.
Dangote Cement, the biggest cement manufacturer, categorically stated that it has always adhered to global best practices in its production of cement grade 42.5 in all its factories. DangCem and a civil society group, Standardisation Advocacy Group, accused Lafarge and other manufacturers of churning out the less-than-acceptable grade.
Under the aegis of Cement Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (CMAN), cement makers such as Lafarge WAPCO, United Cement Company of Nigeria (UniCem), Ashaka Cement (AshakaCem) and Cement Company of Northern Nigeria (CCNN) equally came up to refute the allegation that building collapses were linked to 32.5 grade cement. They explicitly stated that experts from various fields of engineering and architecture had dissociated building collapses from cement grade 32.5, stressing that the professionals were convinced that poor and shoddy construction practices, inability to carry out soil tests, use of salty water, non-involvement of professionals in building and constructions, and use of less than the required quantity of cement, among others, were the culprits.
These manufacturers accused DangCem of producing the 32.5 grade of cement in its Sephaku plant in South Africa and wonder why it was hell-bent on pushing for a new cement standard when it was producing a similar grade in the second largest economy in Africa.
DangCem has gone on to launch the 3X brand, a variant of 42.5 and subsequently a 52.5 grade brand, which it says is only available to construction companies and for high-rise structures.
The bitter war has led to the intervention of the SON in March. The regulatory body summoned all the stakeholders and warring parties with a view to ending the quarrel. However, the meeting failed to put an end to the brawl as accusations and counter-accusations in the press persisted after the all-stakeholders meeting.
Again, Lafarge and its group also sought redress in the courts over the matter. After persistent pressure from different angles as well the House of Representatives hearing on the case, the SON has released a set of guidelines for the industry.
The new guidelines stipulated that cement with strength rating 52.5R should be used for bridges; 42.5R for casting of columns, beams, slabs and for moulding blocks; and 32.5 can for plastering only.
However, we are convinced the issue could have been better handled by the SON. First, why must it take DangCem and civil society groups to remind the SON of its regulatory responsibility?
Second, by being reactionary, is SON convinced that building collapses are caused by the 32.5 grade? Was there any research carried out to authenticate this claim?
Third, is it true that the SON did not properly inform the new guidelines before going to the press?
Finally, is it also true that the regulatory body defied all the court orders on this matter before coming up with the new guidelines? If there are restrictions of the 32.5 grade in so many countries, did the SON find out if it was peculiar to environments or must we wait for other nations to limit it before implementing same here?
It is our position that the SON as the umpire should seek ways of using moral suasion to bring all the parties together and end the war and ensure all manufacturers keep to standards that are in the best interest of all Nigerians.