By: Tijani Salako.
The Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG), Iru–Victoria Island Cell, has express a displeasure over the increasing cases of substandard soil investigations that is being conducted in Lagos coastal areas
The guild noted that poor quality geotechnical testing often increase the risk of foundation failure and building collapse.
In a statement issued by the body noted that a proper geotechnical sub-soil report enables engineers to determine the most suitable foundation type for a proposed structure.
It partly reads, “The lack of effective regulatory monitoring of geotechnical practices in Lagos State could lead to future building collapses in Iru–Victoria Island LCDA. Many of the soil tests conducted are below standard, mainly because practitioners accept low prices to cut costs.
“The increase in demand for sub-soil investigations has exposed the limited capacity of geotechnical firms, as many piling contractors now request confirmatory soil tests, forcing clients to pay twice. This clearly shows that all is not well in the sector.”
The guild stressed that this shabby practice often undermines building integrity, noting that sub-soil investigation reports are required for building approval under the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority Regulations (2019), but often compliance is treated with mere formality.
The BCPG stressed that ensuring the quality of soil investigations is essential to protect lives, property, and investments in Lagos’s coastal areas.
Reaching out for collaboration among government agencies, professional bodies, and industry stakeholders to enforce standards, build capacity, and ensure transparency in soil testing and building sector generally.
