The Lagos State Materials Testing Laboratory (LSMTL) has called on women across the state to join its campaign against building collapse, describing them as vital partners in promoting safety within communities.
Speaking during a plenary session themed “Women as Partners in Ensuring Safe and Secure Communities through Construction Materials Testing,” held at the 2025 National Women’s Conference of the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO), the General Manager of LSMTL, Engr. Olayinka Abdul, urged women to act as community sentinels in detecting signs of structural weakness and reporting unsafe construction practices.
According to Mrs. Salehu-Badejo Abimbola, Director of the Public Affairs Unit, Lagos State Materials Testing Laboratory, the engagement aligns with the agency’s strategic efforts to tackle persistent structural failures across the metropolis.
Abdul emphasised that the safety of the built environment is not just an engineering concern but a vital family and community issue.“Every building collapse is a profound tragedy where lives are lost, families are shattered, and communities are devastated.
The root cause often lies beneath the surface, substandard construction materials. We cannot build a greater Lagos on a weak foundation,” she said.
She identified common “invisible enemies” in construction such as weak concrete, brittle steel, poor soil quality, and saline water that corrode materials and cause silent deterioration over time.
Highlighting the role of the LSMTL, she described the agency as the State’s “scientific guardian” responsible for testing, certifying, and enforcing material standards to ensure public safety.
She also urged women to watch for early signs of distress in buildings such as cracks, dampness, and spalling, which could indicate deeper structural issues.“The agency cannot be everywhere at once. This is where you come in, as caregivers and community organisers, you are the first line of defence. You have the power to ask questions and demand that materials used in your environment are properly tested and certified by LSMTL,” she added.
Abdul encouraged participants to report suspected violations or unsafe construction activities through the agency’s dedicated channels.
The session concluded with the presentation of the Speaker’s Presentation Award and a call to action for safer homes, schools, and communities, a campaign aimed at preserving family wealth, enhancing public confidence, and fostering a culture of safety for future generations of Lagosians.
