The Need to Investigate the Importation and Manufacturing of Sub–Standard Steel in Nigeria:
Rep. Ibrahim Babjide Obanikoro:
The House:
Notes the Premium Times Newspaper reports of 30 April and 1 May, 2020 on the collapse of an eight-storey building under construction in Owerri, which led to the death of two people while eight others were rescued and rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri;
Also notes that the rescue operators later pulled out five more dead bodies from the debris of the building on Friday while the eight people taken to the hospital were later confirmed dead, bringing the total casualty figure to 15;
Further notes that in February 2020, 13 Steel producing companies across the nation were shut down by the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) due to the production of sub-standard steel;
Aware that one of the main reasons for building collapses in Nigeria is the use of sub-standard building materials, such as steel, iron rods, etc.;
Also aware that in December 2016 the roof of a church in Akwa–Ibom State caved in, killing scores of worshippers and injured many and before that, there was the Synagogue Church disaster of September 2014 where a 7-storey guest house collapsed, claiming about 116 lives while in March 2019, three buildings in Lagos-Island collapsed, killing scores of people, including children;
Concerned by the Report of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria that over ₦500 billion has been lost due to building collapse and that about 175 buildings collapsed in Nigeria between 1971 and 2016 with 1,455 lives being lost and the Federal Government losing over ₦1billion weekly to smuggling of substandard steel products into Nigeria;
Concerned that the history of building collapses in Nigeria is alarming and a serious cause for concern that calls for a more robust approach to checkmate the manufacturing and importation of substandard steel;
Resolves to:
(i) Observe a one-minute silence in honour of the deceased;
(ii) mandate the Committee on Industry and Steel to investigate the smuggling, importation and use of substandard steel and operations of locally fabricated steel companies in Nigeria and report back within four (4) weeks for further legislative action.
Debate:
Rep. Obanikoro moved the motion on the need to investigate the importation and manufacturing of sub-standard steel in Nigeria and it was seconded by Rep. Obinna Chidoka.
