Building collapse: Lagos seals 827 construction sites over safety violations

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

The Lagos State Government has sealed no fewer than 827 construction sites across the state in the last 12 months as part of intensified efforts to curb building collapses and enforce compliance with construction safety standards.

The government said the enforcement drive is part of a broader strategy to address the persistent challenge of building failures, particularly in informal settlements and unapproved developments where developers often operate outside established quality control procedures.

General Manager of the Lagos State Materials Testing Laboratory (LSMTL), Engr. Olayinka Abdul, disclosed this on Monday while responding to questions at the 2026 ministerial press briefing marking the seventh anniversary of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, at Alausa, Ikeja.

Abdul said the agency has moved beyond conventional testing methods by adopting a proactive, intelligence-driven quality assurance system, including geotechnical testing, to detect violations before they result in structural failures.

According to her, the agency issued 3,181 notices to property owners and developers during the review period, while enforcement teams carried out 822 compliance operations across construction sites statewide.

She said 439 sites were sealed for failing to comply with regulatory directives, while hundreds of others were shut down over violations related to destructive and non-destructive testing requirements, bringing the total number of sealed facilities to 827 within one year.

“These sealings are not just statistics; they send a clear message that no structure is too big and no developer too connected to escape quality control measures in Lagos State,” Abdul said.

She attributed many incidents of building collapse to developments in informal settlements, where developers often evade statutory testing procedures and regulatory oversight.

To tackle the challenge, Abdul said the agency has introduced a range of reforms anchored on technology, stricter enforcement and industry-wide compliance monitoring.

Among the reforms, she listed the introduction of the electronic Materials Testing Management System (e-MTMS), a digital platform that assigns unique tracking codes to every construction sample submitted for testing, eliminating human interference and reducing opportunities for manipulation of test results.

She added that the agency has also enforced a mandatory three-stage testing regime requiring developers to conduct tests at the foundation, structural frame and roofing stages before construction can proceed.

According to her, all registered construction sites are now geotagged and mapped using GPS technology, enabling enforcement teams to verify compliance remotely and monitor projects in real time.

“The agency has also introduced a private laboratory accreditation programme under which only laboratories that pass bi-annual proficiency assessments are authorised to issue test certificates recognised by the Lagos State Government,” Abdul stated.

She further disclosed that a dedicated whistleblower and rapid-response system had been established to enable residents to report suspicious construction activities.

According to Abdul, the agency responds to such reports within 48 hours and takes immediate enforcement action where necessary.

The LSMTL boss also said the agency has partnered with professional bodies, including the Nigerian Society of Engineers, the Nigerian Institution of Structural Engineers, the Nigerian Institute of Building and the Association of Real Estate Developers of Lagos, to implement compulsory training and certification programmes for key stakeholders in the construction sector.

She revealed that during the review period, the agency conducted 7,077 steel destructive tests, 5,959 concrete tests, 1,818 water tests, 333 pile integrity tests, 948 steel stanchion tests and 226 geotechnical tests involving construction materials such as sand, granite and cement.

Abdul urged residents to demand valid test certificates before occupying newly completed buildings, stressing that preventing building collapse requires collective vigilance from regulators, developers and the public.

“We are working towards zero building collapse in Lagos, but residents also have a role to play by insisting on quality assurance and compliance before moving into any building,” she said.

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