Building collapse: LASG to partner NIOB on regulation of construction materials

The Lagos State Government says it will partner professional builders to achieve its objectives of curbing the use of substandard building materials causing building collapse in the state.

Mr Olufunsho Elulade, General Manager, Lagos State Materials Testing Laboratory (LSMTL), made this known in a statement by Mrs Eloho Aggreh, spokesperson of the agency, on Monday in Lagos.

Elulade spoke while receiving the Nigerian Institute of Builders (NIOB) team led by Mr Lucky Isiname, its incoming National President, on a courtesy visit to the agency’s headquarters in Ojodu, Lagos.

He said that professional builders should partner with the agency toward the eradication of substandard construction materials in the state.

Elulade said that the collaboration was important to checkmate the use of substandard materials for construction.

He said that LSMTL would create a database to register block and clay manufacturers in the state toward enforcement of standards.

Elulade said: “the state governor has declared a zero tolerance to building collapse in the state, hence the need to capture everyone involved in manufacturing and production of construction materials.”

The general manager further said that the synergy between NIOB and LSMTL was very crucial and a welcome development.

He said LSMTL, as a regulatory body backed by the law, was ready to partner with NIOB.

“We are all in this together and we need to strategise and work together,” the general manager said.

He said proper communication channel would be opened to report identified defective buildings for members of the public, through whistle blowing, to serve as informant to alert the agency.

Elulade, however, invited the NIOB members to the upcoming stakeholders’ conference slated for April 8.

Isiname congratulated the general manager on his appointment, expressing the desire of the institute to collaborate with the agency.