The General Manager, Lagos State Materials Testing Laboratory (LASMTL), Dr. Abiodun Afolabi has warned all residents about fraudsters extorting money from owners and developers on construction sites by fraudulently parading themselves as State officials.

The warning, which was contained in a release issued today by the Agency, emphasised zero tolerance for all forms of impersonation LSMTL staff while expressing its determination to sanitise the built environment and ensure that materials utilised for building purposes stand the test of time.

Dr. Afolabi disclosed that the Agency has received numerous complaints that touts and criminally-minded individuals have been posing as government officials in a bid to extort developers and contractors, as well as innocent members of the public, under the guise of conducting illegal building tests.

He said, “The Agency has put up surveillance machinery to apprehend some of those behind the scene. Our trap has already caught three of the impostors, namely Mr. Steven Kayode, Mr. Adebowale Tosin and Mrs. Modupeola, last week Thursday at Igando in Alimosho Local Government Area, with their Lexus Jeep vehicle (Reg No. KSF 940 EF) impounded before they were all handed them over to the Police for interrogation and prosecution”.

While imploring all building owners and developers in the State to be careful and on the lookout for such dubious individuals, the General Manager reiterated that the State government will do everything within its power to eradicate the menace and restore sanity to the built environment.