Lagos Materials Testing Agency Urges Market Dealers to Lead Fight Against Structural Failures
The Lagos State Materials Testing Laboratory Agency (LSMTL) has urged building materials dealers to prioritise quality assurance to safeguard lives and property. The call was made during a sensitisation campaign at the Odunlade Building Materials Dealers Market in Coker, Lagos.
The forum brought together market leaders and dealers to address concerns over substandard construction materials and their impact on structural integrity across the state. Plans to assess the structural condition of buildings within the market were also discussed.
Speaking at the event themed “Quality Assurance is the Key to Preserving Lives: Check Your Buildings for Structural Integrity,” the General Manager of LSMTL, Engr. Olayinka Abdul, represented by the Director of Business Development, Mrs. Omolara Awosanya, said materials testing remains the foundation of any construction process.
She warned that compromising on quality at the point of purchase could lead to catastrophic consequences, stressing that soil, water, granite and other inputs must undergo mandatory testing as part of approved building procedures.
Abdul noted that many building collapses in Lagos could be traced to the use of substandard materials and urged dealers to partner with regulatory agencies to ensure only tested and certified products are sold. She added that the state government would no longer tolerate compromises, particularly with the enforcement of the Certificate of Fitness for Structures.
In his remarks, Mr. Emenike Steven, Market Leader of the Odunlade Building Materials Dealers Association, described the initiative as timely and pledged members’ commitment to complying with standard testing protocols.
He said dealers must lead by example, warning that errors at the point of supply could turn buildings into death traps. He assured that members would work towards selling only certified materials and obtaining necessary structural approvals.
Also speaking, LSMTL’s Director of Research and Development, Mrs. Titilayo Lawal, and Assistant Head of Technical Services, Bldr. Babajide Oyedele, emphasised the importance of safety, routine testing and stakeholder education. Oyedele demonstrated how to identify substandard materials and outlined the agency’s testing services, urging dealers to see testing as an investment in public safety and sustainable business practice.
