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Block Moulders raise the alarm over substandard cement



The Block Moulders Association of Nigeria has expressed concern over an alleged circulation of substandard cement and the type that should be used in building construction.

A coalition of civil society groups and professional bodies in the construction industry had last week raised the alarm about the manufacturing and importation of poor quality cement into the country.

The group had said in a document made available to newsmen that there was a laxity in the regulation and enforcement of standards, which made it possible for cement manufacturers and importers in the country to supply the lower grade of 32.5mpa instead of the 42.5 grade into the local market.

Following the allegation, the association of block moulders stated on Sunday that it was not comfortable with the claim as it had worked closely with regulatory authorities to ensure the use of quality cement in the last few years.

The National President of the association, Alhaji Rasheed Adebowale, stated that block moulders had constantly been trained on the use of standard products and effective delivery of projects.

 “We are part and parcel of the construction industry sector and major end users of the product; we are not comfortable with the civil liberty organisation’s claims about the development and the allegations on the cement type and alleged poor regulation of the sector,” he said.


According to him, the association resolved to intervene in the raging issue because the sector provides for their livelihood.

Adebowale added that the ban on importation of cement and stabilisation of the product’s price by the Federal Government had gone a long way in moving the sector forward.

He said that last year, over 2,000 delegates of the association attended a stakeholders’ workshop, where experts in the sector groomed them on how to produce quality blocks and on the strength of different types of cement and their implication.

He added that block testing machines were deployed to state offices in order to encourage end users to do the right thing.

He called on the Federal Government to support the efforts to strengthen the building and construction sector.

The Chairman of the Lagos chapter of the association, Alhaji Abegunde Okunola, said the government could also empower block moulders.

“We can help in curbing the use of substandard materials,” he said.
Copyright PUNCH.

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