Lagos — As part of efforts to stem incidence of building collapse, Lagos State Government has established a Material Testing Laboratory at Isheri, Ojodu-Berger, to test the state of structurally defective buildings in the State.

State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Opeyemi Bamidele, who disclosed this in a statement at the weekend, said the laboratory was set up to ensure safety of lives and property in Lagos State.

Bamidele, who explained that the material testing requirement is not for revenue generation, implored building owners to make use of the services of the laboratory once they suspect the stability of their buildings or structures by voluntarily subjecting such buildings or structures to test.

Noting that there are bills currently being circulated in the state by some people who purport that such bills in respect of such tests are issued by the state government, the commissioner called on building owners to discountenance such bills pointing out that they did not emanate from the State Government.

"No individual or organisation has the right to enforce any rules or regulations other than the accredited agency of the state government," Bamidele said, adding that the testing requirement was put in place to avoid needless deaths due to incidents of building collapse.

Bamidele advised owners of buildings that are above 40 years and those who are not certain or entertain doubts as to the structural stability of their buildings to voluntarily apply to the Material Testing Laboratory as they would not attract penalty.