Abia Strengthens Construction Sector with Materials Testing Laboratory

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

Abia State has taken concrete steps to ensure efficient operations of the construction sector following the establishment of a functional materials testing laboratory in Umuahia, the capital city.

The testing facility, which was initiated a couple of months back by Governor Alex Otti became a reality with the installation of the needed equipment in the laboratory thereby making it functional.

Abia Information Commissioner, Prince Okey Kanu told a media briefing that the materials testing laboratory is now fully operational and “up and running”.
Building and road collapses, often attributed to use of poor quality materials by contractors, have become common incidents across Nigeria, including Abia hence the decision by Otti to free Abia from such project failures.

Kanu assured stakeholders in the building and construction sector that government’s  strategic move to ensure execution of high quality projects in the state would be beneficial to all given the capacity of the laboratory.

He said: “The lab has the capacity for the following services. Concrete Testing, Soil Testing, Aggregate Testing, Asphalt Flexible Pavement Testing, Steel Reinforcement Testing, Non-Destructive Testing, and Fields Testing, among so many other capabilities”.

He said that government was happy that its intention of engendering  efficient building and construction sector was being realised with the coming on stream of the testing laboratory.

He stated that the end result would be very visible as it would eventually manifest in the high quality standard of building and construction projects in the Abia going forward.

Kanu also stated that government was diligently implementing its agenda of breathing life into moribund companies in order to create job opportunities and further enhance the Abia economy.