The Lagos State Government has issued a strong call to residents to report structurally defective buildings in their neighborhoods, warning that failure to do so could lead to preventable disasters.

In a statement on Tuesday, the General Manager of the Lagos State Materials Testing Laboratory (LSMTL), Mrs. Olayinka Abdul, emphasized the need for public vigilance and early detection of unsafe structures.

“Residents should note that these constructions were done at night, and they should have raised the alarm,” Abdul stated. “We urge the public to be more observant and alert, especially to suspicious or unauthorized construction activities in their areas.”

She cited the recent collapse of a three-storey building on Oremeta Street in the Ojodu-Berger area as a tragic example of ignored warnings. According to Abdul, the structure had been standing incomplete for over a decade and had failed a Non-Destructive Test (NDT), but the results were disregarded by the developers.

“The results at the time clearly indicated the need for further professional input from structural engineers. Sadly, this advice was disregarded,” she said.

Abdul revealed that illegal construction resumed at the rear of the building during the Easter holiday, presumably to avoid detection. “Whilst executing this unlawful plan, the building eventually collapsed,” she added.