Building collapse: Lagos seeks collaboration for improved quality, safety
Building collapse: Lagos seeks collaboration for improved quality, safety
Published By: Paul Dada
By Lydia Ngwakwe
The Lagos State Government has called for collaboration between industry professionals, policymakers and regulatory bodies to improve building standards and practices.
Mrs Olayinka Abdul, General Manager, Lagos State Materials Testing Laboratory (LSMTL), made the call at the maiden stakeholders’ forum organised by the agency.
LSMTL organised the forum in collaboration with the Association of Real Estate Developers of Nigeria, on Thursday in Lagos.
The forum had the theme: “Ensuring Quality and Safety: The Critical Role of Materials Testing in Lagos Building Projects,’’.
It was aimed to promote a safer and more sustainable built environment in Lagos State.
Abdul said: “It is with utmost pleasure that I stand before you today at the first inaugural meeting since my appointment with your association.
“This auspicious moment affords fostered collaboration and dialogue on the vital roles which materials testing plays in ensuring safe, sustainable and high-quality buildings across Lagos State.
“As the General Manager of the Lagos State Materials Testing Laboratory Agency, I warmly welcome this unique opportunity to engage with industry leaders and innovators like yourselves, for the purpose of ensuring quality assurance to structures across the centre of excellence, Lagos State.
“I fervently believe that my appointment as the first female general manager with vast years of civil engineering experience will definitely chart a collaborative future where integrity, safety and quality become the hallmarks of every real estate project in our city.’’
Abdul noted that complex and time-consuming regulatory processes were bureaucratic bottlenecks hindering timely project approvals and construction.
She also emphasised the importance of addressing the use of low-quality materials that could compromise safety and durability of buildings.
She advocated streamlined regulatory processes and improved communication between regulatory bodies and developers to address the barriers.
The Chairman, Association of Real Estate Developers in Lagos State, Chief Bashiru Lawal, urged members of the association to adhere to regulations governing the use of quality building materials.
He said that compliance was essential to safeguarding lives, investments and property.
“Substandard materials compromise structural integrity and lead to preventable incidents such as building collapse and loss of life.
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“By prioritising the use of quality materials, we ensure the safety and sustainability of our projects,” he said.
He assured the participants of the state government’s readiness to collaborate, support and provide guidance.
In a keynote address, the Chief Executive Officer, Vasons Concept Consultants Ltd., Mr Victor Oyenuga, highlighted common errors in construction practices.
He said that one of the errors was failure to conduct soil testing before construction.
Oyenuga said that soil testing was important to determine the soil’s load-bearing capacity, composition and stability.
Oyenuga said, “Without proper soil testing, builders risk erecting structures on unstable ground, which can lead to foundation failures.’’
He mentioned improper mixing of cement, granite and water as another common error, saying that excessive water in the mixture would weaken its strength and durability.
According to him, a weak mix can cause cracks, structural collapse or accelerated wear and tear overtime.
He urged builders to follow established guidelines for concrete mixing ratios.
He recommended regular trainings for site workers to ensure compliance with technical standards.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
LED/IGO
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Edited by Ijeoma Popoola
