The Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG), Iru-Victoria Island chapter, has issued a warning regarding inadequate soil testing practices in the coastal areas of Lagos State.
In a joint statement from the Iru-Victoria Island Cell, signed by Architect Adefemi Afolabi (Coordinator), Quantity Surveyor Taiwo Ayanboade (General Secretary), and Civil/Geotechnical Engineer Wale Oyetayo (Public Relations Officer), the guild highlighted serious professional concerns about the subsoil investigations conducted in this coastal region.
They emphasized that the Iru-Victoria Island Local Council Development Area is bordered by the Five Cowrie Creek and the Atlantic Ocean, making thorough subsoil analysis crucial. Such investigations are necessary to assess the soil’s mechanical characteristics and shear strength, which determine its capacity to support building foundations.
The guild stressed, “Accurate soil testing is vital for construction projects, particularly in coastal zones, to avert structural failures caused by foundation weaknesses.”
“A properly executed geotechnical subsoil report equips civil and structural engineers with the data needed to design foundations that are appropriate for the specific soil conditions of the site.
“Unfortunately, the absence of stringent regulatory oversight on geotechnical practices in Lagos State raises the risk of future building collapses within the Iru-Victoria Island LCDA.”
“Our findings indicate that discrepancies between project budgets and actual execution costs have led to compromised soil testing standards. Some practitioners justify subpar tests by citing financial constraints, but this rationale is unacceptable since no external pressure forces them to accept undervalued contracts.”
“The role of subsoil investigation reports in the building approval process appears to be largely procedural rather than substantive in this region. Soil testing in Lagos State often serves as a mere formality to satisfy regulatory requirements.”
“Field observations from geotechnical sites in Iru-Victoria Island and other parts of Lagos reveal that many soil tests fall short of established standards, casting doubt on the effectiveness of these investigations as a prerequisite for construction.”
“Given that inadequate subsoil analysis has been identified as a key factor in building failures, mandatory subsoil investigations have been instituted as a critical measure to combat the ongoing challenge of building collapses.”
