SON closes steel company over alleged sales of substandard products

Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has closed down the Ispat Steel Company Nigeria Ltd., in Agbara, Ogun State, over alleged production and sales of substandard imported steel products. Business activities were disrupted at the company immediately the SON’s enforcement team stormed the premises. The company’s General Manager, Mr Ramesh Gawapathy ,was apprehended by the team along with one of his aides for failing to give satisfactory explanations on the company’s operation. The workers and the management staff of the company, located at Opic Estate in Agbara, were caught unaware by the surprise visit of the SON’s enforcement team. Several tonnes of rusted steel, wires and metal plates of various sizes, ranging from 12mm, 25mm and 32 mm were seen scattered in the open inside the company’s premises.
Mr Bede Obayi, who led the enforcement team, said that the closure of the company followed the expiration of the 60- day deadline earlier given to the company by SON. He said that the SON Director-General, Mr. Joseph Odumodu, had earlier ordered all the companies dealing in substandard goods to dispose them off from their warehouses. Obayi said that the deadline was given at the stakeholders’ meeting on Sept.16 where issues of collapsed buildings were discussed