The Lagos State Government has urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report any structurally unsafe buildings within their communities to prevent potential building collapses.
The appeal was made in a statement issued on Tuesday by the General Manager of the Lagos State Materials Testing Laboratory, LSMTL, Mrs Olayinka Abdul.
She emphasised the importance of early detection and public cooperation in identifying signs of structural defects, warning that failure to act on such red flags could result in avoidable tragedies.
She noted that many building disasters in the state have been traced to non-compliance with proper materials testing protocols and a blatant disregard for safety regulations by developers.
Citing the recent collapse of a three-storey building on Oremeta Street in the Ojodu-Berger area, Abdul explained that the structure, which had stood as an uncompleted carcass for over a decade, ultimately failed after its Non-Destructive Test results were ignored.
“The results at the time clearly indicated the need for further professional input from structural engineers. Sadly, this advice was disregarded,” Abdul said.
She further revealed that additional illegal construction was allegedly carried out at the rear of the building during the night, presumably to evade detection by regulatory authorities, particularly during the Easter public holiday period.
“Whilst executing this unlawful plan, the building eventually collapsed,” she added.
Abdul urged members of the public to stay observant and alert, especially to suspicious or unauthorised construction activities within their neighbourhoods, stressing that prompt reporting could help avert life-threatening disasters.
“Residents should note that these constructions were done at night, and they should have raised the alarm,” she said.
She reiterated the government’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property, encouraging Lagosians to embrace the ‘See Something, Say Something’ safety campaign.
“For faulty buildings or suspicious construction works, residents can reach us via WhatsApp on 07058890232,” Abdul advised.
