The Umuahia Capital Development Authority (UCDA) has declared that all building materials must undergo laboratory testing before being approved for use in construction works within the state capital, Umuahia.
UCDA’s general manager explained that the directive is part of a broader strategy to stem the recurring wave of building collapses, which are often linked to the use of substandard materials.
Under the new regulation, individuals or firms planning construction must submit material samples for testing; only materials certified by the UCDA testing laboratory will be cleared for structural use. Officials stressed that failure to comply will attract punitive action.
The move has been welcomed as a serious step toward safer construction with public-safety advocates noting that credible materials testing, combined with enforcement of building standards, could significantly reduce collapse incidents not just in Abia, but set a precedent for other states.
