To curb recurring collapse of buildings in the state, the Lagos State Materials Testing Laboratory (LSMTL) and the Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB) Lagos chapter are proposing compulsory non-destructive test and building survey reports for all properties for rent and lease in the state.
The General Manager, LSMTL, Olufunsho Elulade, disclosed this at the fourth edition of builder’s business workshop, tagged: “Building Surveying Practice and Procedure: Charting a new course in Building Post-construction Services organised by the NIOB in Lagos.
He made case for a holistic review of building processes involving structural and sub-engineering investigations to resolve incessant collapse in the state.”l have reviewed the law that established LSMTL and one of the clauses we are proposing is that it is going to be extremely difficult for prospective seller or developer to sell any property or rent to any individual in Lagos, if the developer does not have a non-destructive test result and building survey report.
Elulade said if the proposal is approved by the state house of assembly and approved by the governor, it would become operational. “The only way to generate holistic solutions is through data. We must treat the root of the problem and not just sub-engineering solutions due to visual tests,” he said.
Chairman of NIOB, Lagos Chapter, Lucky lsename, said building survey is an important part of post construction aspect of building, where datas are analysed to determine the stability of projects.
Immediate past chairman of the chapter, Sunday Wusu, said the building surveying practice and procedure should be enshrined into the building regulation law such that within five to 10 years intervals buildings are surveyed in terms of whether the materials used are still okay or their strength is reducing.
Another builder, Mr. Phillips Olusesan, said with the awareness on the need for building survey reports, financial institutions might have to demand for building surveying reports before granting mortgage loans. He added that the report would guide homebuyers to be aware of the true status/structural stability of the property they intend to buy or rent.
Also speaking at the forum, State’s Commissioner for Housing, Moruf Akinderu-Fatai, said the world is evolving in a dynamic manner with factors such as technological innovations, population explosion, migration and climate change playing major roles in determining trends and developments.
“Whether we like it or not, these factors will definitely shape our world over the next five years. At the level of governance, they will impact on policy decisions and influence allocation of resources. At the professional level, these issues will determine the direction of skill acquisition and human capital development. At the investors’ level, they will play on the absolute or relative appeal of building investment options.
The wellbeing of the people is actually the source of the credibility of the government. To us, that term represents the human capital that involves the poor, the rich, and the users of homes, home providers, land buyers and investors. As builders, we must not rest on our oars until we resolve the issue of affordability of homes. Houses must be affordable for the low wage earners to access,” he said.
