Lagos Govt. seeks collaboration with artisans on building safety

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By Lydia Chigozie-Ngwakwe

The Lagos State Government has sought the collaboration of Alaba Market traders and construction artisans in the fight against building collapse.

Mrs Olayinka Abdul, General Manager, Lagos State Materials Testing Laboratory Agency, made the appeal at a forum with traders and building artisans within Ojo and Badagry communities.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event held on Tuesday in Lagos with the theme:  “Fostering Collaboration in Averting Building Disasters across Lagos Communities”.

Abdul, represented by the agency’s Divisional Head, Ojo/Badagry Office, Mrs Lola Olowu, emphasised that building safety was a shared responsibility among stakeholders.

She said: “The theme of today’s collaboration “Fostering Collaboration in Averting Building Disasters across Lagos Communities”, underscores the importance of supporting collaboration among all stakeholders.

“We need the support of you, market traders and construction artisans, in combating the challenges posed by building disasters.

“Our city, Lagos State, is a dynamic bustling hub of commerce; hence, it is the collective responsibility of everyone of us here.

” You – traders, artisans, regulatory agencies, and voluntary organisations – must partner with us to ensure that our buildings, markets and workspaces are well constructed and maintained to the highest safety standard.”

She said that  rapid urbanisation in areas such as Ojo and Badagry could outpace safety measures, making the communities  vulnerable.

Abdul highlighted the devastating impact of building collapse, not just in terms of material loss but also  in terms of the emotional and psychological toll.

The general manager emphasised the need for quality construction materials.

She also highlighted the agency’s dedication to providing quality control and testing services.

Abdul identified initiatives taken by the agency to improve building safety to include trainings, collaborative safety inspections, public awareness campaigns and creation of a safety committee.

The Head of Soil Geotechnics Unit at LSMTL, Mrs Bimbo Adebayo, spoke on:  ” The Role of Testing Building Materials”.

She emphasised the importance of integrating materials test schedules into construction and production timelines.

She said: “Having considered the role of testing of building materials as a crucial one, efforts should be made to incorporate test schedules into our construction or production timelines.

“There should be a strong collaboration between the manufacturers, end users and materials testing laboratories to ensure adequate testing and accurate results to ensure quality and standard products”.

The Chairman, Lagos State Block Makers Association, Mr Fabiyi Oyeleke, thanked Lagos State Government for enlightenment programmes on building safety.

He said that the association was facing the  challenge of unqualified block molders.

He said that the presence  of the unqualified personnel posed a risk to building safety in spite of the government’s initiatives.

He appealed to the government to address the challenge.

The Secretary, Lagos state Bricklayers Association, Mr Paul Atewolara, called on members of the association to collaborate with the  government to tackle building collapse.

He commended the agency for efforts, emphasising the importance of effective communication.

Atewolara said that government policies might be challenging sometimes, but acknowledged that they were ultimately aimed at ensuring public safety.

He encouraged the members to work together to prevent collapse of buildings. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ijeoma Popoola

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