The Lagos State government says it will begin enforcement of
material testing at construction sites, to achieve its vision of zero tolerance
for building collapse in the state. The Acting General Manager, Lagos State
Materials and Testing Laboratory (LSML), Mr Olalekan Ajani disclosed this in
Lagos.
Ajani said the agency was passionate about forestalling incidences of building
collapses, adding that the Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration had
empowered the agency with increased workforce across all local governments and
local council development areas.
“Lagos State is stepping up operation in construction sites
to see that builders comply with the quality assurance of the state to
forestall cases of building collapse.
“We want to ensure a zero incidence of building collapse through regular visits
to the construction sites; this is the only way to save lives in conformity
with the state’s extant laws. “Our officers are now recruited in all local
governments, working and checking all the sites for compliance and enforcement;
that is what we are stepping up now. Daily trust
“LSML officers are mandated to visit construction sites frequently now to
ensure that builders have quality assurance certificate; and if anyone is found
wanting, the site will be shut down,” he told NAN.
Ajani said that even completed structures would not be spared from supervision and quality control, as they would also undergo non-destructive tests. “Even already built houses especially the commercial buildings in Lagos will also undergo a non-destructive test, while subsequent materials for use will be tested.
“For buildings already erected, we will be asking if they have carried out non-destructive test and issue them certificates, however, they do not need to destroy their buildings in the process.
“The non-destructive
test is conducted with the state-of-the art scientific equipment; we are only
interested in knowing the condition of the house, maybe for reconstruction,
rehabilitation or rather reinforcement or re-engineering,” he said. Daily trust