LSMTL MOVES TO CURB PRODUCTION, SALES OF SUBSTANDARD BUILDING MATERIALS
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The Lagos State Materials Testing Laboratory Agency (LSMTL) will oversee a strict quality control system aimed at reducing the supply of inferior building materials used in projects throughout the city.
The Agency’s General Manager, Engr. Olayinka Abdul, has called for consumers to collectively refuse to buy subpar products like steel, iron rods, electrical cables, and construction cement, even at the point of discharge of such goods in the Open Market, as part of strict measures to prevent continuing building collapse.
During the courtesy visit of a 15-member delegation from the Association of Real Estate Developers of Lagos State (AREDOLS), led by its Chairman, High Chief Bashiru Lawal, to Eletu Ilado and Inagbe Island on Wednesday, Engr. Abdul made this call, urging developers, construction workers, and consumers to make intentional and consistent efforts to prevent the emergence of subpar services resulting from the use of subpar but excessively costly items.
She said, “I urge you to place a revolution on the purchase of these substandard goods that have proliferated quality assurance in the open market, which subjects construction of projects to mediocrity and one that perpetuates danger to lives. Nigeria is not the only country across the continent affected by inflation. This is a global phenomenon, yet, we have most of the building materials coming at a very reduced presentation with a supposedly 12mm iron rod coming at 8mm upon test, technically reducing the durability of projects, or worse still posing danger to lives”
“The cost and quality of a purchase are quite abnormal. Hence, sanctions will be placed on curbing the circulation of these substandard building materials in Lagos. Let every construction worker petition these companies on why they grossly depreciate production quality that will invariably induce future loss either during checks on materials testing procedures or building collapses, which will all count as documented evidence against them when actions are taken”, Engr. Abdul added.
The general manager encouraged reflection on the Lagos State policy regarding construction procedures while cautioning that statutory destructive tests must be carried out at every stage of building construction, with non-destructive tests specifically intended for renovations to older buildings or structures that have been destroyed by fire.
She revealed that brief messages will shortly be delivered to every home that has been recorded on the Electronically Generated Information System of construction sites for homes that have been there for ten years or more, as well as those that are over fifty years old and are regarded as heritage buildings.
Her words, “It is quite sad that most long-standing buildings of over 50 years are being demolished for newer structures, thus leaving Lagos State without heritage buildings. This development is abnormal and will certainly jeopardise the unique feature of every settlement and its peculiar Real Estate pattern. These structures should be professionally reinforced as heritage buildings and not destroyed to accommodate newer structures that, most times, are subservient to these edifices”.
“To discuss this extensively, we have planned a stakeholders’ forum at every community hall in the IBILE settlements of Lagos State and also to deliberate on construction issues, as well as some fall-out approaches that will affect some settlers on the revamped processes of the Agency being part of systematic change to curb episodes of collapse across the State”, she added.
Chief Bashiru Lawal, the AREDOLS Chairman, praised Engr. Abdul’s incentives and initiative in his speech for guaranteeing newer modes of operations for smooth examination of materials testing in preventing the collapse of buildings.
AREDOL’s general secretary, Chief Hawwal Sanni, said that the government’s involvement is crucial in reducing anomalies related to materials testing because it is the only way to reduce unprofessionalism through the creation of regulations that will encourage sufficient participation from its more than 300 members throughout Lagos State.
He said, “We are well aware of newer modalities by your Agency, and we want to associate with it to ensure that all levels of unprofessionalism are curbed under Government policies that will certainly foster development”.
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