Disturbed by recurring cases of building collapses, the Kano State chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Architects has called for strict enforcement of building regulations.

The chairman, Mustapha Mukhtar, made the call when he led a delegation from the institute on an assessment visit to the scene of the recent building collapse along Sultan Road in the Nassarawa council area of Kano to evaluate the situation.

According to a statement on Sunday by the institute’s spokesman, Salim Bashir-Abdullahi, the NIA chairman said that building regulations should be strictly enforced on both private and public projects to prevent similar incidents.

Mr 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 on-site safety measures, such as 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,” stated Mr Mukhtar.

According to Mr Mukhtar, the recurring incidence of building collapse is a matter of serious public concern.

He said, “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.”

Mr Mukhtar further emphasised that architects and other registered built environment professionals, such as engineers and quantity surveyors, play critical roles in ensuring that buildings are properly designed, coordinated, supervised, and executed in accordance with approved standards and applicable regulations.

(NAN)