… Reveals New Operational Modalities
The Lagos State Materials Testing Laboratory Agency (LSMTL), has rolled-out advanced operational modalities on meeting the volatile opportunities and challenges of rapid urbanisation to settlements across Lagos State.
Speaking during the visit of a delegation from the Lagos State Parastatals Monitoring Office (PMO) led by its Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Adetutu Ososanya, the General Manager of LSMTL, Engr. Olayinka Abdul stated that to effectively fulfil the mandate of her Agency in protecting integrity of structures, highest standards of safety and quality must strictly be adhered to by all stakeholders within the built industry.
She said, “The Lagos State Materials Testing Laboratory Agency checks all construction materials, including Asphalt, sand, steel, concrete, bitumen, water and particularly granite, which have various forms that can either aid in collapse, or enhance durability of structures. Granite has various tenacity ration to complement the construction process, hence, Lagos residents have to know this to avoid buildings’ collapse being induced by their incapabilities to withstand structural changes, along with other factors which LSMTL is going to rigorously sensitise stakeholders on in averting disasters across Lagos State”.
She emphasised that the use of substandard steel, stanchions, brittled concrete mix and salinated soil, often cause ripple effects on buildings while affecting peoples’ lives through caved-in structures.
Engr. Abdul reiterated, “Our advocacy and operations will focus on shore settlements of Lagos State, because soil salinity from Makoko, Iyana – Oworonshoki, Lagos – Island, Irewe and its Environs, as well as Badagry and the connecting Islands are not ideal for buildings’ construction. But, people dredge these soil contents from the water in minute forms using canoes at the detriment of residents’ safety because they come cheap. All these things seemed right, but, upon laboratory scrutiny, they definitely contribute to buildings’ collapse,
She added that to rectify the defects being shaped by this anomaly, Non – Destructive Tests will be conducted on buildings that have been erected for more than 10years to indicate precision in performance. “We do not want episodes of collapse in Lagos State anymore”, she added
The General Manager noted that many developers may not fully understand the importance of using tested materials.
“These campaigns will highlight the long-term benefits – both economic and safety-related – of adhering to the set standards”, she stated.
Earlier in her address, the Permanent Secretary, Parastatals Monitoring Office, Mrs. Adetutu Oluremi Ososanya averred that ‘walk the talk’ move of her Agency was targeted at grooming values in Parastatals and Agencies of Government to mitigate effects shaped by execution of responsibilities for optimal delivery.
She called for collaborations of LSMTL with other Government Agencies, in measuring up her standards as the bedrock of the built industry to ensure safety to structures.
She said, “Everyone should be involved in ensuring safety to buildings in the State, for every Nigerian wants to reside in Lagos State. Everyday, development tends towards massive pace, hence, technology needs to be deployed by the Agency to step-up its game in keeping proper order in place”.
“I proffer buildings’ regeneration process with LASURA as obtained in better climes in order to check wide defects to buildings. Moreso, all residents should report all compromising signs while avoiding non-challant attitude that could cause future disaster and pain”, the Permanent Secretary averred.
