FCCPC Investigates Steel Manufacturers Over Product Quality
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) is investigating the quality of steel being produced by three local steel manufacturing companies.
The FCCPC team, at the weekend, stormed three steel manufacturing firms in Ogun State to investigate the quality of iron rods manufactured by the companies.
The visited companies are African Foundries Limited (AFL), Ogijo, Ogun State; the Monarch Steel Mill Limited, Sagamu, Ogun State, and the Kam Steel Integrated Company, Sagamu, Ogun State.
The Acting Executive Vice Chairman of FCCPC, Adamu Abdullahi, who addressed journalists at the premises of AFL, said the commission got intelligence that required it checks the quality of products produced by the companies.
Abdullahi said the FCCPC team took samples of products to ascertain if they are involved in unfair market practices.
He said the commission will not tolerate a situation where steel manufacturers would produce 10mm iron rods but label and market same as 12 mm iron rods.
This market behaviour, according to him, is among the major causes of building collapse in Nigeria.
Abdullahi said: “We are talking here about the issue of safety of Nigerians, which is the core essence of consumer protection. We have to ensure the safety of our population. What is happening in the building space so far is worrisome to government and all well meaning citizens of this country.
“So, we have to look at these processes to find out if they are cutting corners. If they are doing so, we will apply the full wrath of the law. That is why we are here”.
Commenting on the attitude of the companies during the fact-finding mission, Abdullahi said that all the three companies were very cooperative to the commission.
“That is why we had had no issues. Naturally, we would expect that their lawyers would have advised them and our laws allow that.”
He emphasised that the FCCPC is on a fact-finding mission and information gathering stage and will analyse the collected samples to ensure they align with claims of the manufacturers.
