Ogbonnaya Ikokwu, Umuahia
The Abia State Executive Council has approved the setting up of Standard Materials Testing Laboratory in Umuahia the state capital.
The Commissioner for Information and Culture Prince Okey Kanu disclosed this while briefing journalists in Government House, on the outcome of this week’s Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti, on Monday .
According to the Commissioner, the setting up of the the Standard Materials Testing Laboratory is necessitated by the incessant collapse of buildings in Nigeria with the attendant humam and material loses
“This government is trying to ensure that such instances do not occur in our State. The lab may include where they test materials for road construction. It will also provide a platform for a research for those who want to carry out research in such areas . They will be able to use such a facility to carry out research when you want to test materials”, he said
Throwing more light on the Standard Materials Testing Laboratory, the General Manager, Umuahia Capital Development Authority, Mr. Kingsley Agomuo explained that it is an initiative government feels it is worthwhile.
He said, “This is also going to assist us to ensure that every building, road construction including bridges meet the required standards. You are also aware that the use of substandard materials is the order of the day, so with this, it’s going to be pretty difficult for you to start any construction work and get any approval at any stage without subjecting the materials you are going to use through this laboratory”.
Mr. Agumuo, who said that the lab would also be set up in other areas of the State maintained that it has the capacity to handle soil test , reinforcement of rods ,aggregate materials and asphalt. He said it is not something that is restricted to building alone but both include other forms of constructions.
In related development, Abia State Government has said that all illegal gates round the town and city will be removed to enhance free flow of traffic within Umuahia .
The Commissioner for Information and Culture Prince Okey Kanu also disclosed but stressed that,
“As it is usual in our style, the Streets and areas where these gates exist , the people there will be pleaded with to do the needful to provide access. If they don’t do so , government will enforce compliance. He added that those illegal gates impede movements in times of emergencies .
He also added that , that attachments to buildings or extensions to buildings must be equally removed in the cities.
He said,”If you look round the city, you would see a lot of buildings that bear extensions in front these attachments have been converted to shops so to speak and government is frowning at that going forward, we want buildings to remain buildings, if you have commercial building, it would serve that purpose, if you have residential building, let them serve that purpose . We expect those involved to take their time to do the needful and remove these stalls”, after that government would enforce the it.”