Determined to end the recurring tragedies from building collapse, the Lagos State Materials Testing Laboratory, LSMTL, has unveiled a new safety initiative.
The agency also called on construction stakeholders to work together in safeguarding lives and properties.
General Manager of LSMTL, Mrs. Olayinka Abdul, made the call during a stakeholders’ forum on Tuesday in Badagry. She was represented by the Director of Administration, Mr. Adewunmi Abayomi.
With the theme “Certified Structural Integrated Programme, CSIP: Forging a New Unbreakable Alliance Against the Preventable Tragedy of Building Collapse in Lagos State”, the forum introduced CSIP as a five-year assessment plan for all standing buildings in Lagos.
Abdul explained that the initiative would ensure that every material used in construction is tested and certified. She stressed that weak or uncertified materials such as blocks, concrete, steel, and untreated soil were major causes of building collapse.
She highlighted the agency’s strategy across three phases of construction: mandatory soil tests before permits are issued, destructive testing of blocks, cement, steel, and sand during construction, and post-construction non-destructive tests with equipment like the Pundit and Profoscope to confirm building integrity.
The general manager also announced plans to establish a directory of certified artisans and producers to link them with developers while providing regular training.
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She emphasised that the programme was not only about enforcement but also about partnership and accountability.
Mr. Abimbola Adebayo, Head of Foundation Geotechnics and Highway Units at LSMTL, said every building in the state must undergo stability tests every five years, comparing the process to regular vehicle servicing.
He warned that non-compliance would attract penalties, ranging from notices to sealing of buildings.
Stakeholder representatives welcomed the initiative. Alhaji Fabiyi Oyeleke, Chairman of the Association of Block Moulders, Badagry Chapter, pledged members’ commitment to producing standard blocks while appealing for government support to curb quack producers selling substandard blocks at cheaper prices.
Similarly, Mr. Fashina Yusuf-Aro, Chairman of the Bricklayers Association, Badagry Chapter, urged artisans to prioritise quality materials and reject jobs where property owners insisted on substandard options.
Participants at the forum included block moulders, steel makers, and concrete mixers, all pledging support for the new safety initiative aimed at making Lagos structures more resilient and secure.
NAN
