…. Frowns At Demolition of Heritage Building in Lagos
The Lagos State Materials Testing Laboratory Agency (LSMTL) is set to direct a fierce quality control mechanism in curbing the influx of substandard building materials used for the construction of projects across the metropolis.
As part of stringent measures in averting persistent building collapse, the General Manager of the Agency, Engr. Olayinka Abdul has called for the collective refusal of consumers to purchase sub-standard products such as steel, iron rods, electrical cables as well as the cement used for construction, even right at the point of discharge of such goods in the Open Market.
Engr. Abdul made this call on Wednesday, during the courtesy visit of a 15-man delegation from the Association of Real Estate Developers of Lagos State (AREDOLS) led by its Chairman, High Chief Bashiru Lawal, the Eletu Ilado and Inagbe Island, appealing for deliberate and sustained efforts from developers, construction workers and consumers to check advent of subpar services emanating from use of items that are below standard, yet unnecessarily expensive.
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.
While enjoining flreflection on the Lagos State policy on construction processes, the General Manager admonished that statutory Destructive Tests should be executed at every stage of erecting structures, with Non – Destructive Tests particularly slated for renovation works to long-standing buildings or fire-engulfed structures.
She disclosed that short messages will be sent soon to all captured houses on the Electronically Generated Information System of construction sites of houses that span 10 years of existence and those of over 50 years considered heritage structures.
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.
In his address, the Chairman of AREDOLS, Chief Bashiru Lawal, applauded Engr. Abdul’s incentives and initiative at ensuring newer modalities of operations for seamless scrutiny of Materials tests in averting buildings’ collapse.
Chief Hawwal Sanni, the General Secretary of AREDOL, stated that the Government’s presence is highly required in curbing anomalies associated with Materials tests, as this is the only strategy in curtailing unprofessionalism through the formulation of policies which will foster adequate participation of its over 300 members, across 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”.
