Disturbed by recurring cases of building collapses, the Kano State chapter of Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA) has called for strict enforcement of building regulations.
The Chairman, Arc. Mustapha Mukhtar, made the call when he led a delegation from the institute on an assessment visit to the scene of recent building collapse along Sultan Road, Nassarawa Local Government Area, Kano, to evaluate the situation.
A statement on Sunday by the institute’s Public Relations Officer, Salim Bashir-Abdullahi, quoted the Chairman saying the building regulations should be enforced strictly on both private and public projects to prevent similar incidents.
Mukhtar, who expressed deep concern over the recent building collapse, urged the Kano State Government, Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON) and other regulatory bodies to ensure that only qualified and registered professionals are engaged in construction projects.
“Following the inspection, the delegation observed that there were no visible indications of the involvement of registered construction professionals in the project.
“There were no project signboards anywhere along the roads leading to the site or on the site, there were no visible onsite safety measures present like temporary site fencing.
“The Institute noted that the apparent absence of professional oversight raises serious concerns about compliance with statutory building regulations and established professional standards.”
According to him, the recurring incidence of building collapse is a matter of serious public concern.
“Effective enforcement of regulatory provisions and the mandatory engagement of registered professionals are essential to protecting lives, property, and public confidence in the construction industry.”
Mukhtar further emphasised that architects and other registered built environment professionals like Engineers, Quantity Surveyors and others play critical roles in ensuring that buildings are properly designed, coordinated, supervised, and executed in accordance with approved standards and applicable regulations.
The Chairman, who extends the chapter’s sympathy to the affected persons by the unfortunate incident, reaffirmed its commitment to working with government agencies, regulatory authorities, and other stakeholders to promote professionalism, public safety, and sustainable development throughout the state. (NAN)
