Guild Alleges Imperfect Soil Test In Lagos Coastal Region

Members of the Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPC), Iru-Victoria Island Cell, have raised the alarm over imperfect soil tests in the Lagos State coastal region.

In a statement signed by the coordinator of Iru-Victoria Island Cell, the guild, Adefemi Afolabi, an Architect; its general secretary, Taiwo Ayanboade, a Quantity Surveyor; and Engr. Wale Oyetayo, a Civil/ Geotechnical Engineer and Public Relations Officer, expressed professional concerns over the imperfect subsoil investigations in the coastal region of Lagos State.

They noted that Iru—Victoria Island Local Council Development Area is surrounded by the Five Cowrie Creek and Atlantic Ocean, adding that conducting comprehensive subsoil investigations to determine the mechanical properties and shear strength of the soil that could bear the loading exerted by the building foundation is inevitable.

The guild averred, “Soil tests are essential for building development, especially in the coastal region, 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.
“Lack of effective regulatory monitoring of geotechnical practice in Lagos State portends future incidents of building collapse in Iru – Victoria Island LCDA.

“Our investigations revealed that the underlying factor of execution cost being at variance with the contract sum/budget paved the way for most of the substandard soil tests being conducted around. This excuse by some practitioners is not tenable since no one compelled them to accept low prices.

“What is the relevance of the sub-soil investigation report in the building plan approval requirements? In this part of the world, it seems the relevance is more for formal purposes. Conducting soil tests in Lagos State is merely to comply with the regulation.

Observations from geotechnical sites within our locality, BCPG Iru – Victoria Island Cell, and other parts of Lagos State have raised doubts on the primary objective of sub-soil investigations as a prerequisite for building development. Many of the soil tests conducted were below standard.

“Lack of sub-soil investigations was identified as one of the causes of building collapse. Hence, as part of solutions to building collapse challenges, subsoil investigations have been made mandatory.’’