By Kayode Olopade
The Lagos State Materials Testing Laboratory Agency (LSMTL) sealed a total of 827 Construction Facilities for non-compliance with Quality Control regulations over the past 12 months, even as the Agency unveiled a series of Digital reforms aimed at curbing the persistent incidence of buildings collapse across the State.
The General Manager , LSMTL; Engr. Olayinka Abdul, disclosed this on Monday June 1st during the Lagos State Annual Press Briefing with Echelons of Power in the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, which held at the Balguda Kaltho Hall, Alausa -Secretariat.
Fielding questions from journalists, Engr. Abdul acknowledged that buildings collapse remain a critical challenge in Lagos, but, noted that over 70 per cent of such incidences occur in informal settlements and unapproved developments where developers routinely evade the Agency’s statutory testing regime.
She explained that the Agency has since shifted from reactive testing to proactive, intelligence-led Quality Assurance, adding that key reforms have been implemented since 2024 to address the structural safety deficit in the State.
Engr. Abdul averred that these reforms include the full digitization of testing processes through the launch of an electronic Materials Testing Management System which assigns unique digital tracking codes to every sample, thereby eliminating human interference and result falsification.
She stated that the Agency has enforced a mandatory three-stage testing regime requiring compulsory testing at foundation, frame, and roofing stages before any further construction is approved, while GPS-enabled geotagging of all registered construction sites now allows enforcement teams to verify testing compliance remotely without physical site visits.
While highlighting the noble move for introduction of a Private Laboratory accreditation scheme , Engr Abdul reiterated that the move allows only Laboratories that pass bi-annual proficiency tests and covert sample audits, designated as “List A” Labs,could get credible results accepted by Lagos State.
Still speaking , the General Manager announced the launch of a dedicated whistleblower hotline, 0800-00LSMTL (0800-0057685), and a WhatsApp line 07058890232, enabling residents to report suspicious construction activity, with a rapid response Unit , shutting down illegal casting within 48 hours.
She underscored the Agency professional developmental roles to partner with professional bodies including the Nigerian Institution of Structural Engineers, the Nigerian Society of Engineers, the Nigerian Institution of Estate Geoinformation Engineers, the Nigerian Institute of Building, and the Association of Real Estate Developers in Lagos State, in order to run a mandatory "Quality Control Passport" programme for Site Engineers, Block Moulders, Concrete Moulders, and Developers, with no passport meaning no approval for materials supply to registered sites.
Still presenting the enforcement data for the last 12 months, the General Manager reported that a total of 3,181 notices were issued to clients, with 827 sites sealed.
A breakdown of the figures shows that 1,322 Non-Destructive Tests were served, and 822 enforcement site visits were conducted, out of which 439 led to sealing upon non-compliance, while the remaining 383 complied within the seven-day ultimatum.
She noted further that 388 of the sealed facilities have since met all conditions, paid prescribed penalties, and been allowed to resume operations under strict monitoring.
The Agency also conducted extensive Destructive and Non-Destructive Testings. within the period under review. According to Engr. Abdul, LSMTL carried out 7,077 Steel Destructive tests, 5,959 Concrete Tests, 1,818 Water Tests, 948 Steel Stanchion tests, 333 Pile Integrity tests, 226 Geotechnical tests for Sand, Granite, and Cement, 31 Soil tests, and 129 Destructive Tests, while 1,233 sites complied with Destructive Test protocols, with 1,055 Uncompleted projects failing to comply; 435 sites with uncompleted structures complied , thus observing Destructive Test protocols, and 280 abandoned structures were served notices.
The LSMTL General Manager informed that these sealings and digital reforms were not mere statistics, but , a clear message that no structure is too big and no Developer too connected to escape quality control.
She expressed gratitude towards members of the Press and Stakeholders ,for what she described as “walking the dream of ensuring zero building collapse in Lagos State,” and urged Lagos residents to join the effort by demanding test certificates before occupying any new building.
Engr. Abdul urged residents to report suspicious construction activity via the dedicated hotline 0800-00LSMTL (0800-0057685) or WhatsApp 07058890232.
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