The House of Representatives has initiated a probe into the Standard Organisation of Nigeria’s (SON) reversal of its decision to shut down 18 companies implicated in the production and distribution of substandard building materials, particularly iron rods.
This resolution followed a motion of urgent public importance introduced by Edo lawmaker, Mr. Billy Osawaru, from the All Progressives Congress (APC). Osawaru urged SON to take stricter actions to eliminate counterfeit products, especially in the building materials sector, to ensure that only quality products are available in Nigerian markets.
Osawaru expressed concerns about the frequent building collapses in Nigeria, which he attributed to the use of substandard materials, poor regulatory oversight, and inadequate construction practices. Citing statistics from the Building Collapse Prevention Guild, he noted that 47 building collapses were recorded across 14 states in 2024, with Lagos State accounting for 56% of these incidents.
He further highlighted that substandard materials had caused numerous fatalities, with three buildings collapsing in 2025 alone, resulting in several deaths and injuries. Osawaru argued that SON’s insufficient actions to prevent these incidents are evident, particularly when poor quality materials and cheap labor contribute to over half of the building collapses, with most affected buildings being private residences.
It was reported that SON had reversed its decision to shut down the 18 implicated companies, allegedly under pressure from the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment. This move has sparked criticism and raised concerns about the government’s commitment to enforcing quality standards in the construction industry.
The House of Representatives has resolved to investigate SON’s actions and make recommendations on how to address the issue of substandard building materials in the country.
