Building Collapse: Traders, Consumers unaware of Cement Standardization
The recent clamor by coalition on relevant authorities to initiate actions to make 42.5 grade of cement the standard product in Nigeria is gradually yielding with public awareness increasing on the variations in cement grades.
Our correspondent went round to validate the level of awareness from a cross section of the public on the use of 32.5 and 42.4 cement grades. This video is excerpt of what a cross section of the public says.
In our correspondence report, a Cement Seller, Mrs Funke Ajayi noted that she sells both grades but have no idea on the variation. “I ensure I have both 32.5 and 42.5 so that I can meet customers demand”.
On her own part a representative of Ayansang Block Industry, Deaconess A. O. Oseye was very frank to say she does not have an idea on the appropriate use of 32.5 and 42.5. “All I know is that one dries faster than the other when mixed with water. If the government enlightens us on the proper application of the standard and it works for us then we will stick to it but for now, we do not know the difference”.
On the part of Architect Eric Uzondu who is a building contractor, he decried the poor enforcement of standard by relevant organisations which have led to so many quacks in the building industry. The deficit has led to the collapse of building in Nigeria. “If scientifically it has been proven that 42.5 is better than 32.5, then it is a welcome development in the industry”.
The views of Tunde Sodiya, a contractor was that bricklayers should be blamed for every collapse building. He said that most of them use five bags of cement in place of ten bags of cement which results to building a weak structure.
View the link for the correspondent video