Block Moulders nationwide have lauded the leading role being played by Dangote Cement Plc in enlightening the stakeholders in the building and construction industry on the standardization of cement and other allied products being undertaken by the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON).
Speaking at the Obajana Cement Plant of the Company at the weekend after a tour of the plant by the members of the National Association of Block Moulders of Nigeria (NABMON) from the Northern part of the country, President of the Association, Alhaji Rasheed Adebowale said what Dangote Cement has been doing would go a long way into creating the desired awareness on how better quality blocks could be the main preoccupation of his members.
His Association, according to him would forever remain grateful for the gesture, saying it takes a company of Dangote cement pedigree to take all block Moulders in the country through the process of cement making with a view to giving them better understanding of how quality blocks could be produced even to the profit advantage of the moulders using the right quality cement.
Alhaji Adebowale also lamented the spate of building collapse in the country and regretted that more often times blocks being produced by his members is the first item of building that accusing fingers are usually pointed at and the enlightenment by Dangote Cement would go a long way into making his members better block Moulders.
The tour and the presentations, he stated, had created the desired education needed by his members to contribute their quotas in the fight against substandard building materials.
Adebowale said in line with NABMON’s motto of “Quality is our goal”, quality and zero tolerance for using poor and substandard materials to mould blocks ever remained topmost in the association’s agenda. He also notified his members of the impending clampdown on those who do not comply with the SON standard specification.
While Calling on the government to create awareness for that would positively make the general public patronize standard and quality products instead of substandard and inferior ones, the NABMON boss argued that the enlightenment by the Dangote Cement was enough to help his members embraced the new standardization policy
Said he: we are grateful to Dangote Cement, we have better understanding of how blocks are produced and what it takes to produce quality blocks and the presentation afterwards have also revealed to us why it is not in our own interest to produce substandard blocks that would later give way and cause loss of lives and property.
Addressing the block Moulders after the tour, Dangote Sales Director for the North West, Obasola Alo told them that Dangote Cement was trying to create a platform for all stakeholders to be happy doing the business they are doing.
He said the company was deeply touched by the prevalence of substandard building materials which has led to the building collapse embarrassment nationwide and has therefore decided to undertake an enlightenment campaign for the stakeholders on how the situation could be redressed.
“We need you as much as you need us, we need to collaborate. Dangote Cement company of international status and highest producer of the product in Africa cannot afford to fold its hand when buildings are collapsing everywhere and lives are being lost. This is one of the ways we think we can help to join hands to address the situation”, Alo stated.
In his comment, Johnson Olaniyi, Sales Director and Marketing of the Company, expressed the desire of Dangote Cement to ensure the standardization being carried out by SON is complied with by all stakeholders to bring sanity into the industry.
Said he”it is very disheartening to hear that only five percent of blocks moulded in Nigeria is acceptable quality. Why do we ask why building collapse? SON said so, if only 5 per cent blocks are of standard what happened to the remaining 95 per cent, this is why Dangote Cement is doing all the campaign to bring awareness to how we can produce quality blocks.
“By this we are also helping you grow, as you will now be a better block Moulders using the right materials in the right proportion and enjoying better patronage”
The block moulders were later given certificates of participation.