How Dubious Block Manufacturers Contribute To Building Collapse

 The rising cases of building collapse in major cities across the country may be due to the activities of dubious block manufacturers who reduce quality in order to maximize profit.

This is the view of some stakeholders in the block industry who spoke to THE WHISTLER.

An Abuja based block manufacturer and proprietor of Shas Block Industry who identified herself as Oladele, said the unit cost of blocks has increased from N150 to between N165 and N170 due to increase in the prices of cement and stone dusts- both ingredients used in block making.

“We only responded proportionately to inflation in the price of raw materials like cement and stone dust by cement and quarry companies respectively.

“The companies alleged increase in government tax policy as the reason for price increase in the raw material,” she stated.

A bag of cement, according to Oladele, has increased by fifty Naira while stone dust increased by one thousand fifty Naira per tonne.

The proprietor of Shas however said that lack of strong regulatory body for the industry has caused a situation where dubious block makers are able to reduce quality and still sell at the market price.

She accused the National Association of Block Moulders of Nigeria (NADMON) of inadequate supervision of the industry, saying that the body was only interested in raising revenue from members.

She stressed that the association is not known to enforce quality control on block manufacturers.

“I am not sure if they perform such function because they have never come to inspect my company.

“Even if they go around, they can only inspect what is available and as soon as they leave, the manufacturers will continue with their dubious acts.”

She advised builders to “thoroughly examine” the blocks they buy as no one is regulating the industry as of now.

Speaking on the same issue, proprietor of Lade Block Industry, Lade Abiola also lamented the hostile business environment manufacturers have to operate in, stressing that increased prices of raw materials have reduced sales.

“The economy is hostile to business in this sector and we just have to cope with poor sales and high cost of production,” adding that NABMON has been irrelevant to the industry.

Abiola expressed dissatisfaction over the role of NADMON in handling issues affecting its members, stressing that the body had also refused to negotiate prices with suppliers of raw materials.

He said the association was only out to make profit and does not care for the welfare of members.

“The association has done little or apparently nothing to address this situation. They are just out to make money and care little about the welfare of its members.

“When suppliers take decision that affects the industry negatively, they tend to pay deaf ear.” He said, adding that it is the reason dubious manufacturers try to cut corners by reducing quality.

The block manufacturers call on the federal government to regulate the industry and punish agencies who overtax businesses in the country.

Oladele called for the introduction of price control system where price of both raw materials and finished goods will be checkmated.

“Government should reinstate price control policy and place penalties on offenders.

“They should also constitute monitoring teams that will inspect businesses regularly.

“This will regulate prices of raw materials and finished goods as the issues of high price and poor quality of blocks is not unconnected to government policy.”