The Lagos State Materials Testing Laboratory Agency has begun an enlightenment campaign on the dangers of using low-quality materials, especially those mined from water bodies, for building.
The General Manager of the agency, Mrs Olayinka Abdul, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos.
Abdul said that the negative impact of such materials on building was much, urging builders to avoid patronising the vendors.
She warned against using freshly-mined sand, saying it could corrode steel more quickly due to higher salt content.
According to Abdul, water-mined sand is not the same as land soil because it often contains higher levels of salinity, making it less suitable for construction.
The general manager also said that there were plans to implement measures to check the quality of steel imported into the state.
She said that the measures would help to ensure that only high-quality materials would be used in construction projects.
Abdul said that there would be stakeholders’ engagements at Irewe, Ese-Offin, Shibiri, and Badagry to raise awareness about the dangers of using substandard construction materials.
She said that the engagements would involve construction workers, traditional rulers and other stakeholders in the built industry.
She said that the goal was to educate and sensitise the stakeholders about the hazards of using substandard materials.
The general manager said that radio jingles and phone-in programmes would also be used as additional advocacy tools to reach a wider audience.
She said that there had been collaborations between the agency and Nigerian Association for Engineering Geology and The Environment, and Nigerian Institution of Structural Engineers, to ensure good quality of construction materials and safety of buildings in Lagos State.
Abdul said that the agency was monitoring construction sites to ensure that builders would comply with regulations.
She added that the agency had partnerships with private consultants to broaden its reach and ensure that all construction sites were adequately monitored.
Abdul had told a delegation from the Lagos State Parastatals Monitoring Office, led by its Permanent Secretary, Mrs Aderemi Ososanya, that the agency planned to conduct a thorough examination of shore structures in the state.
She said that the planned examination followed concerns about the safety and quality of buildings in the areas.
She said the aim was to ensure that all construction materials used in the areas met the highest standards of safety and quality.
She disclosed that the agency would be conducting non-destructive tests on existing buildings of over 10 years to assess their structural integrity and identify any potential defects. (NAN)
