A recently surfaced video has sparked outrage over the declining quality of construction materials in Nigeria, specifically reinforcing rods (iron rods), raising concerns about regulatory oversight and safety.
In the video, a concerned individual criticized the Standard Organization of Nigeria for allowing such products to thrive in the market.
He compared two lengths of iron rods from different years,one manufactured in June 2021 and another presumably from 2024.
The older rod, labeled IGS 12mm 0621, is visibly thicker than the newer IGS 16mm rod, which shockingly lacks a manufacturing date.
“This is uniquely a symbol of corruption in Nigeria,” the speaker lamented, questioning how a 12mm rod from 2021 appears larger and more robust than a 16mm rod from 2024.
The observation, however, points to issue in the country’s manufacturing sector, where quality control appears to be deteriorating rather than improving.
The video further criticized the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) for failing to regulate the industry properly.
“We’ll blame cement and other factors, but we will not blame SON, which allows this kind of rubbish to be going on in this country,” the speaker asserts.
The concern is not just about poor quality but also about the devastating consequences of using substandard materials. With frequent reports of building collapses in Nigeria, the speaker accuses unscrupulous manufacturers of profiting from unsafe products, calling it “blood money.”
“Only God can help Nigeria,” the video concluded, urging SON to take responsibility and live up to its name by enforcing higher standards in the manufacturing of construction materials.
Watch video here