Building environment professionals, under the auspices of Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG) Iru – Victoria Island Cell, have raised the alarm over what they described as “imperfect” sub-soil investigations in the coastal region of Lagos State.

The professionals pointed out that investigations have shown that substandard sub-soil test was fuelling building collapse in Lagos State, expressing worry that lack of effective regulatory monitoring of geotechnical practice in the metropolis portends future incidents in Iru – Victoria Island LCDA.

They emphasized that Iru – Victoria Island Local Council Development Area is surrounded by the Five Cowrie Creek and Atlantic Ocean, arguing that conducting comprehensive sub-soil investigations in order to determine the mechanical properties and the shear strength of the soil that could bear the loading exerted by the building foundation is inevitable.

They reiterated that ensuring the integrity of sub-soil investigations is critical to safeguarding lives, properties, and investments in the coastal region of Lagos State.

The professionals called for collaborative engagement between government agencies, professional bodies, and industry stakeholders to build capacity, enforce standards, and foster transparency in soil testing operations.

In a statement signed by the Coordinator, BCPG Iru – Victoria Island Cell, Adefemi Afolabi, an architect; General Secretary, Taiwo Ayanboade, a quantity surveyor; and Public Relations Officer, Wale Oyetayo, a civil/ geotechnical engineer, the trio said that soil test remained an important exercise for building development, especially in the coastal region, in order to prevent building collapse due to foundation failure.

“Geotechnical sub-soil investigation report, if correctly done, enables the civil/structural engineer to determine and design the most suitable foundation type for the proposed building development,” the group said in the statement.

However, the group said that investigations have revealed that the underlying factor of execution’s cost being at variance with contract sum/budget has paved way for most of the substandard soil tests that are being conducted around.

The group also raised doubt about the integrity of the sub-soil investigation report being attached as part of building plan approval requirements.

It said that through investigations, it has identified paucity of competent drillers, strenuous process of soil text, insufficient drilling accessories, and high drilling accessories’ cost, among others as challenges being faced in the sub-soil soil text segment.

“On the submission of application for planning permit or building plan approval, Section 4, Sub-section 3 (V) of the revised Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority Regulations, 2019 specifies that, ‘Sub-soil investigation report in the case of structures in excess of two (2) floors and all developments in areas with low bearing capacity soil where required.

“This regulation has created exponential demand for sub-soil investigations, thereby exposing the unpreparedness and limitations of geotechnical firms. Although the challenges are being endured silently by practitioners in order to protect the business from low patronage, the need to avert future disastrous consequence of downplaying the challenges necessitates bringing into the open constraints in the geotechnical field.

“Doubts being exhibited by piling contractors, who nowadays demand for confirmatory sub-soil investigations, making clients spend double for the same exercise, are the indication that all is not well in the geotechnical sector. There is a limit to pretentiousness,” the statement by BCPG read.

To enhance credibility of sub- soil investigations, BCPG urged that the building plan approval system should incorporate procedures capable of verifying soil test reports and minimizing the risk of copied or falsified submissions.

It stressed the establishment of the Lagos State Materials Testing Laboratory by law in 2006 was considered a solution to inferior geotechnical practices, but that the agency that was supposed to play the role of the disciplinarian umpire, entered into the business of soil testing, thereby competing with the firms it was established to regulate.

“The revenue generation drive of the agency is counter-productive as standards became compromised.

“It is high time LSMTL stopped playing the dual role of soil test monitoring and revenue generating agency through soil testing business.

“LSMTL should now wield the big stick to sanitize the geotechnical sector. Any firm that wants to practise geotechnical investigations in the state must undergo scrutiny for possessing appropriate plants, equipment, accessories, experienced drillers, and analytical competent supervisors,” the group said.

As way out of the woods, the BCPG Iru–Victoria Island Cell is making a case for the establishment of training school for drillers by the Lagos State Government, in conjunction with the Nigerian Institution of Geotechnical Engineers; Nigerian Association for Engineering Geology and the Environment; and other relevant bodies.

“For a result oriented approach, field work monitoring with enforcement teams is inevitable in the aspirations for the satisfactory sub-soil investigations,” it said.

The group reiterated that ensuring the integrity of sub-soil investigations is critical to safeguarding lives, properties, and investments in the coastal region of Lagos State.

While commendable efforts have been made in strengthening building control processes, the group said that more work remains to be done in the area of geotechnical practice.

“By addressing the identified challenges and prioritizing professionalism above expediency, Lagos State can significantly reduce the risks of building collapse and set a sustainable example for other coastal cities in Nigeria and beyond,” BCPG said. (Nigerian Tribune)