The National Association of Block Moulders of Nigeria (NABMON) has expressed concern over the rising costs of production, calling on the Federal Government to support the industry.
The association made the appeal on Thursday at its 2026 summit in Abuja, with the theme, “NABMON as Counterparts in Nation and Economic Development under Renewed Hope Agenda”.
Speaking, the National President, Alhaji Kareem Adewale, said that the increasing cost of production was making it difficult for many block moulding businesses to remain competitive, sustain operations and maintain quality standards.
The NABMON president also identified inadequate patronage from contractors and limited relationships between local block manufacturers and professionals in the construction industry as major challenges affecting the sector.
He called on the government to establish a supportive legal and institutional framework to recognise, protect and strengthen the block moulding industry.
Adewale further appealed for greater government patronage of qualified local block manufacturers in public construction projects.
He said that compliant producers should be given opportunities to supply building materials for government-funded housing and infrastructure projects.
He also called for accessible soft loans at low interest rates and with reasonable repayment periods to enable members to acquire modern equipment, expand production capacity and employ more workers.
The association also urged cement manufacturers to recognise NABMON members as qualified dealers and distributors, subject to their commercial requirements, to facilitate access to cement at competitive prices.
‘’Such an arrangement will reduce production costs, support affordable construction and contribute to making housing more accessible to Nigerians, ‘’ he said.
Adewale reaffirmed NABMON’s commitment to promoting professionalism, standardisation, quality production and responsible business practices among its members.
He also expressed readiness to collaborate with government agencies, cement manufacturers and professionals in the construction industry.
Speaking with newsmen after the opening ceremony, Adewale reiterated the association’s decision to endorse Tinubu for a second term, saying members were pleased with the opportunity to identify with the president.
Also, the Director-General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Mr Ifeanyi Okeke, emphasised the strategic importance of block moulders in ensuring the safety, durability and sustainability of Nigeria’s built environment.
Okeke, who was represented by Mrs Silifat Shagaya, said that SON remained committed to ensuring that products manufactured, distributed and consumed in Nigeria complied with applicable Nigerian industrial standards.
He said that the organisation had intensified efforts to combat the production and circulation of substandard and counterfeit products through factory inspections, market surveillance, product sampling and enforcement of regulations.
The SON director-general stressed that compliance with relevant standards for concrete, cement and other construction materials was non-negotiable.
He warned that poor-quality building materials posed serious threats to structural integrity, public safety and national development.
Okeke, therefore, urged NABMON members to embrace standardisation, ensure that their production processes met applicable specifications and submit products for the necessary conformity assessments and certification.
He also called for stronger collaboration between SON and the association through technical capacity building, laboratory testing, certification services and active participation in standards development.
According to him, quality compliance should no longer be viewed merely as a regulatory requirement but as a shared responsibility and competitive advantage for Nigerian manufacturers.
The summit brought together government representatives and stakeholders in the building and construction industry to deliberate on the contributions of block moulders to Nigeria’s economic and infrastructural development. (NAN)
Edited by Abdulfatai Beki/Esenvosa Izah
