The nation’s foremost cement manufacturer, Dangote
Cement weekend at the stated that all the products rolling out from its three
cement plants are certified 42.5 grade in line with international standard and
quality benchmark.
Reacting to the threat of coalition
of civil society groups and professional bodies in the construction industry to
lead protests against manufacturers and importers of 32.5 grade cement, the company’s Chief Executive
Officer, Mr DVG. Edwin said Dangote Cement’s adherence to global best practices
informed the production of 42.5 grade cement in all its factories.
Addressing a cross section of the media weekend in
Lagos, he said that Dangote Cement chose to produce 42.5 cement grade as it is
stronger and has better qualities. According to him, the cement grade
possesses higher strength capability and is rapid setting making it the
preferred grade among blockmakers, builders and construction workers.
Explaining why Dangote
Cement is laying emphasis on the production of 42.5 grade cement, Mr Edwin said
that prior to the nation attaining self-sufficiency in cement production, the
Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) stipulated the 42.5 grade as the grade
accepted one to be imported into the country and all importers complied.
Dangote Cement as a responsible market leader has
continued to produce 42.5 grade in its three plants in strict adherence to the
stipulations of the SON. He wondered why SON should insist on 42.5 grade as the
standard for import and then allow a lower grade in terms of local production.
“How
come during the import era, we are all compelled by the regulatory authorities
to bring in 42.5 grades and now since 2012 when import was banned, the same
regulatory authorities condoned the production of 32.5 grades”
Reacting to claims by a cross section of cement
manufacturers that the root cause of building collapse is not cement quality
but poor use of materials especially 32.5 grade by builders, Mr Edwin advocated
that the best way to ensure safety in the construction industry is to insist on
42.5 as the grade to be produced and used in Nigeria. He explained that after
seminars and training to educate builders on how to use 32.5 grade in building,
the unscrupulous ones among them still cut corners to cheat on quality.
This incidence of building collapse will be greatly reduced if we adhere
to a common quality specification leaving no opportunity for manipulations, he
contended.
On the claims that switching over to 42.5 grades
would impact negatively on their profit margins by some cement manufacturers,
he debunked the claims adding that producing the grade will lead to a marginal
cost increase and it should be seen as a patriotic gesture to stem the tide of
building collapse. “We place a high premium on human lives and not cost. Nothing
on earth can be substituted for human lives. Those arguing that migrating from
32.5 to 42.5 will erode their profit margin are insincere and selfish as human
lives are more important than profit taking.” He said.
As part of promoting best practices in the building
industry, Mr Edwin said that Dangote Cement in the past two years has held
several trainings and demonstrations with blockmakers across the
nation to educate them on how to achieve premium results using the 42.5 cement
grade. This has become a permanent feature in our operations.
Giving a breakdown of the different grades of
cement available, he noted that 92 per cent of Portland cement produced in the
United States (US), are in 52.5 and 42.5 Grades, while other imported cement
from China, Japan, Denmark and Paris are all 42.5 Grade.
He said, “Over 90 per cent of consumers are
not aware of the different types of cement available in Nigeria. Their
expectations in respect to the performance of cement are the same regardless of
the type. The grade (quality) of concrete to be used may allow 32.5 grade
cement for certain construction work such as pavements, rendering (plastering)
and culverts but would demand 42.5 grade cement for structures, columns,
bridges and multi storeyed buildings.”
A coalition of civil society groups and professional bodies in the construction
industry are set to launch a major campaign for the standardization of the
manufacturing and importation of the product. The coalitions, according to
media reports, have called on the relevant authorities to initiate actions to
make 42.5 grade of cement the standard product in Nigeria.
The stakeholders’ argument is that nearly all the cement manufacturers and importers in the country are in the habit of taking advantage of the lax regulation and lack of enforcement to vary their pigmentation in favour of the lower grade cement (32.5) which in most cases is used in building and seen to be partly responsible for the collapse of houses. They believe that the practice, which is quite prevalent, is usually overlooked by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON).
The stakeholders’ argument is that nearly all the cement manufacturers and importers in the country are in the habit of taking advantage of the lax regulation and lack of enforcement to vary their pigmentation in favour of the lower grade cement (32.5) which in most cases is used in building and seen to be partly responsible for the collapse of houses. They believe that the practice, which is quite prevalent, is usually overlooked by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON).
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