The Standards Organisation of Nigeria has raised the alarm over the rising influx of substandard roofing sheets in the Nigerian market, warning that poor-quality products and faulty installation practices threaten lives, property, and the integrity of the building industry.

The organisation issued the warning during a stakeholders’ forum themed ‘Boosting the Building Industry Value Chain with Standard Roofing Sheets’ held recently in Lagos.

The Director of the SON Lagos Office, Theresa Ojomo, decried the growing trend of manufacturers and installers flouting Nigerian Industrial Standards, especially in the production and fixing of galvanised roofing sheets.

In an interview with The PUNCH, she said, “We have so many parameters in the standard, thickness, tensile strength, and chemical composition of galvanised roofing sheets. Even the painted and stone-coated ones must meet the requirements.”

She warned that when coatings fail to adhere properly, exposure to rain and harsh environmental conditions causes the sheets to deteriorate quickly, leading to leaks, blown-off roofs, or hazardous chemical run-off.

“You begin to see some roofs with patches. Some areas are washed off. It’s a dangerous situation when these chemicals run into water people may drink or use,” she added.

Ojomo also blamed poor workmanship during installation for many of the roofing failures recorded across the country, stating, “If builders don’t fix the sheets properly, nailing, screwing, and aligning, the galvanised sheets will give way.”

The SON director called on Nigerians to pay attention to quality when purchasing and using roofing materials. “We want the general public to be aware of the quality requirements of galvanised roofing sheets in manufacturing, building, and use,” she stressed.

Ojomo revealed that SON has ramped up market surveillance operations and now conducts regular spot checks at distribution points. “We measure thickness, do on-the-spot tests, and when a product fails, we confiscate and destroy it if it cannot be remanufactured,” she said.

According to her, SON recently destroyed a batch of imported galvanised roofing sheets that were “very thin and didn’t meet composition and thickness standards”.

Representing the Association of Secondary Aluminium Producers of Nigeria, Cletus Igbojionu also blamed poor installations and inferior wooden supports for many roofing failures. He pointed to climate change as a compounding factor.

“Windy rain can expose any poor installation, regardless of gauge. If your polish is too wide or your wood support is too thin, you’ll have unnecessary leakage or roof collapse,” Igbojionu warned.

He noted that his association has begun training carpenters and installers on best practices, including getting a Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme certification. “Before you become an installer, you must be MANCAP-certified by SON,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Director-General of SON, Ifeanyi Okeke, represented by the Director of Corporate Affairs, Talatu Ethan, said the agency engaged stakeholders to build shared responsibility across the roofing value chain.

“Our mandate is to develop and promote standards that improve product quality and enhance consumer confidence,” Ethan said.

She warned that the proliferation of substandard roofing materials poses “safety hazards, financial loss, and reputational damage to sustainable manufacturers”.

She noted that SON has zero tolerance for substandard roofing. “Roofing sheets are not just construction materials; they are the final protective barrier for any building,” she said.

Ethan added that SON is intensifying enforcement of both MANCAP and the SON Conformity Assessment Programme, while also maintaining strict offshore inspection and port surveillance to stop substandard imports.

“We have carried out several raids on non-compliant warehouses and initiated prosecutions,” she said.

Ethan stressed that collaboration is key to achieving lasting solutions. “Regulation is vital, but collaboration is indispensable. The decisions we take today will define the trajectory of Nigeria’s housing and infrastructure sectors,” she said.

The agency urged all stakeholders, manufacturers, importers, builders, and installers to prioritise quality and standardisation or risk enforcement actions, including product seizure and destruction.