A construction expert, Mr Kunle Awobodu, has called on the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) to start monitoring sandcrete block production to avert building collapse.
Awobodu, the National President of Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG), said  that the rate at which substandard sandcrete blocks flooded the building construction market was worrisome.
He spoke to newsmen in Lagos, yesterday.
“It will be suicidal to ignore the effect of using substandard blocks for the majority of Nigerian buildings,’’ he said.
According to him, the danger inherent in the use of low quality blocks for building has become a source of concern for construction professionals, who will not want their reputation dented.
Awobodu said that lack of regulation in the production of blocks contributed much to building collapse.
“Block-making has become an all-comers affair. The machine for manufacturing blocks is easily fabricated in all nooks and crannies without strict specifications and standards.
“There is no monitoring system for the quality of sand and water being used for block production. The mix ratio varies widely.
“In the past, a 50kg bag of cement was being used to produce 25 blocks of 225mm (9 inches) size, but nowadays, a 50kg bag of cement produces as many as 45 blocks of 225mm size,” he said.
Awobodu said that increase in the cost of producing blocks due to hike in the prices of cement and other production variables encouraged compromise in the quality of blocks.
“However, the sharp practices are surmountable with the efforts of the LASBCA, SON and other relevant bodies.
“Once these regulatory authorities start strict monitoring of block production and sanctioning of defaulters, production of substandard blocks will stop,” he said.