Building Collapse: Lagos govt seeks collaboration for safety
The Lagos government has called for collaboration between industry professionals, policymakers and regulatory bodies to improve building standards and practices.
Olayinka Abdul, the Lagos State Materials Testing Laboratory general manager, made the call at the maiden stakeholders’ forum organised by the agency.
LSMTL organised the forum in Lagos on Thursday in collaboration with the Association of Real Estate Developers of Nigeria.
Ms 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 of the Association of Real Estate Developers in Lagos, Bashiru Lawal, urged members of the association to adhere to regulations governing the use of quality building materials.
He added 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.
“By prioritising the use of quality materials, we ensure the safety and sustainability of our projects,” Mr Lawal said.
He assured the participants of the state government’s readiness to collaborate, support and provide guidance.
Vasons Concept Consultants CEO Victor Oyenuga highlighted common errors in construction practices. He said one of the errors was a failure to conduct soil testing before construction.
Mr Oyenuga said that soil testing was important to determine the soil’s load-bearing capacity, composition and stability.
Mr 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 would weaken its strength and durability.
According to him, a weak mix can cause cracks, structural collapse or accelerated wear and tear over time.
He urged builders to follow established guidelines for concrete mixing ratios.
He recommended regular training for site workers to ensure compliance with technical standards.
(NAN)
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