The Lagos State Government has begun moves to make geological and geotechnical investigations compulsory before the commencement of major construction projects, in what officials described as a significant policy shift aimed at tackling structural failures and protecting billions of naira invested annually in infrastructure.

The proposed regulation, unveiled recently at a stakeholders’ engagement organised by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, would require developers to undertake certified subsurface investigations before embarking on roads, bridges, housing estates and other critical infrastructure across the state.

Officials said the initiative seeks to institutionalise scientific assessment of soil and geological conditions as a prerequisite for development approvals, arguing that many engineering failures stem not from poor construction alone but from inadequate understanding of what lies beneath the surface.

Speaking at the engagement themed “Domesticating the Regulation of Pre-requisite Subsurface Geological/Geotechnical Investigation for Infrastructural Development in Lagos State,” the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Ibilola Kasunmu, said Lagos could no longer afford to treat subsurface investigations as an optional component of infrastructure planning.

“As one of Africa’s fastest-growing megacities, Lagos continues to witness unprecedented investments in roads, bridges, housing, water infrastructure and other critical public assets,” she said.

“Every successful infrastructure project begins with a proper understanding of subsurface conditions.”

Kasunmu said the proposed framework would establish uniform standards for geological and geotechnical investigations and ensure that developer-submitted reports meet internationally accepted professional benchmarks.

She dismissed concerns that the policy could introduce another layer of bureaucracy into the state’s development approval process.

“This initiative is intended to complement existing development approval processes rather than create additional bottlenecks for developers,” she said.

According to her, the objective is to improve quality assurance, strengthen professionalism, safeguard public investments and reduce risks associated with poorly understood ground conditions.

The proposal comes as Lagos continues an unprecedented wave of public and private infrastructure development, with new highways, bridges, housing schemes and commercial projects transforming the state’s urban landscape and increasing the need for stronger regulatory oversight.

The Registrar of the Council of Nigerian Mining Engineers and Geoscientists, Prof Opafunsho Zaccheus, described the initiative as a proactive intervention capable of raising professional standards across the construction industry.

He said effective regulation would require sustained collaboration between government agencies, academia, professional bodies and practitioners.

Also speaking, the Registrar of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, Tomide Akinnawa, stressed that geological and geotechnical investigations perform distinct but complementary functions and warned against professional overlap.

He called for closer collaboration among the Ministries of Energy and Mineral Resources, Physical Planning and Urban Development, and Works and Infrastructure to ensure seamless implementation of the proposed regulation.

Former Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Abiola Kosegbe, said the ministry’s statutory responsibility for coordinating geological services places it at the centre of efforts to strengthen construction safety across the state.

Drawing from her years in public service, she argued that effective implementation would depend on sustained cooperation among government institutions responsible for planning, approvals and infrastructure delivery.

Representatives of the Ministries of Physical Planning and Urban Development and Housing also pledged support for the initiative, saying geological intelligence should become an integral component of planning and building approval processes.

The technical sessions shifted the conversation from policy to science.

Delivering a presentation titled “Geology, Urban Resilience and Mega City Attainment,” Prof Olatunji Akinade of the University of Ibadan argued that resilient cities were built not only above ground but beneath it.

He said sustainable urban development depends on understanding geological conditions before foundations are laid, adding that scientific planning, sound engineering and institutional coordination remain indispensable for cities experiencing rapid urbanisation.

Another resource person, Dr Adeolu Kayode, proposed sweeping reforms that would strengthen oversight of foundation investigations.

His recommendations included accrediting firms carrying out geological and geotechnical investigations, introducing digital certification for technical reports, establishing a central geological database for Lagos, adopting risk-based compliance monitoring and expanding continuing professional education for practitioners.

According to him, such measures would improve investor confidence while reducing the incidence of structural failures.

The proposed implementation framework was later presented by Adegoke Kuseju of the ministry’s Geological Services Department, who outlined business processes for reviewing, certifying and validating investigation reports before construction approvals.

Closing the engagement, Dr Akindele Apata urged stakeholders to move beyond consultations towards developing an enforceable regulatory regime capable of reducing infrastructure failures across the state.

He said the success of the initiative would ultimately depend on transparency, professional integrity and collaboration among all institutions involved in the construction value chain.

The engagement drew participants from government ministries, regulatory agencies, universities, engineering and geological professional bodies, consulting firms and the private sector, all of whom pledged support for the proposed framework.

If implemented, the regulation would represent one of the most far-reaching changes to Lagos’ pre-construction approval process in recent years, shifting attention from visible engineering works to the less conspicuous but often decisive science beneath them.