Steel coy denies shutdown of facility by SON

The management of African Steel Limited has debunked media reports of a purported shutdown of its Ikorodu Steel Factory by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) for standards infractions, describing the publications as untrue.

A statement from the management made available to Daily Trust yesterday, signed by the Director, Ravi Sharma said, “Officials of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) recently visited the premises of African Steel, Ikorodu, in the course of their regulatory oversight, took inventory of already manufactured steel products and took samples for further regulatory processes with proper documentation.”

The company stated that it is aware that similar regulatory steps were undertaken by SON to the premises of other steel manufacturers across the country, stressing that, at no time did SON officials shut down their premises in Ikorodu.

Sharma restated the group’s commitment to upholding the highest standards of its manufactured products and providing services that conform with all regulatory requirements in view of its huge investment in the Nigerian economy which includes an integrated iron ore mining, processing and steel production plant located in Kajuru, Kagarko LGA of Kaduna State with a capital outlay in the region of $600m.

Commenting on the SON’s recent regulatory activity in the steel sector, the Director, Product Certification, Engr. Enebi Onucheyo, corroborated the African Steel narrative and confirmed that neither the facility of the company nor those of any other steel manufacturer were shut down in the latest exercise.