As controversies rage over the quality of cement manufactured in the country, Dangote cement has said it welcome the plan by the House of Representatives to investigate the quality standard of cement produced in the country.
The House had on Friday resolved to investigate the allegations that some companies are producing substandard cement, following a motion raised by Hon. Ibrahim El-sudi which expressed concerns over the raging controversies vis a vis the high incidence of building collapse in parts ofbthe country.
The motion was unanimously adopted with the House promising to set up an ad-hoc committee to undertake the assignment of unravelling the truth or otherwise of the claim of existence of substandard cement.
Dangote said at the weekend that the resolution by the Reps is a step in the right direction as it will reveal the real situation in the cement industry
Members of a Coalition of non governmental Organisations had days ago alerted the nation to the existence in the market a 32.5 grade of cement said to be substandard and threatened to protest and report Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to Consumer Protection Council for allowing such development.
The group reasoned that the cement must have been responsible for the incessant building collapse being experienced in the country.
It based its anger against SON on the fact that the cement being imported into the country is 42.5 which is a higher grade also approved by SON.
To allow some local producers to produce lesser quality of cement, the group reasoned smacked off double standard to the detriment of Nigerians.
Following the outburst by the coalition, Dangote Cement Plc came out to stoutly defend its product, dissociating itself from production of any substandard cement.
Group Head, Corporate Communications for Dangote Group, Anthony Chiejina said his company welcomed the development and would be ready to cooperate with the authorities in their findings.
He said that Dangote cement does not produce substandard product and would support any effort at ensuring the right quality product is offered Nigerians.
It would also be recalled that the SON had persistently denied that there is substandard cement in the market.
A statement from the organisation in the wake of the controversies indicated though it has set up a committee to review the existing quality of cement but confirmed that there is no low quality cement produced by any company in Nigeria.
