Worried by the incessant cases of building collapse in Kano, a structural engineer, Yusuf Saminu Yakasai, has attributed the persistent incidents to weak regulatory enforcement by the relevant authorities.

Besides, Yakasai heaped the failure of property owners to engage qualified professionals, poor construction practices and inadequate attention to soil conditions among the major factors responsible for building collapses in Kano.

Yakasai, Managing Director Blue Trade and Natural Limited was reacting to the causes of building collapses, also told The Guardian that regulatory agencies responsible for overseeing construction activities were not doing enough to strengthen enforcement and ensure that developers obtained the necessary approvals before commencing construction.

He said: “The main problem goes to the government, particularly the regulatory agencies. They are not doing enough when it comes to enforcement of the rules governing building construction. You will see so many buildings taking place without even the approval of KNUPDA.

“The government needs to monitor these activities from the beginning so that all the regulatory requirements and checks are properly carried out before construction starts”. he said.

The certified engineer also expressed concern that even some buildings with regulatory approval still collapse, stressing that approval alone would not prevent building failure if proper supervision and compliance were not maintained throughout the construction process.

The expert’s submission comes three days after five people were confirmed dead while 11 others sustained varying degrees of injuries in two separate building collapses in Kano.

The two structures, one located at Gaida in Kumbotso Local Government Area, was under construction when it collapsed. The second structure, a bungalow at Kurna in Fagge Local Government Area, was being used as an Arabic school.

The spokesperson of the Kano State Fire Service, Saminu Abdullahi, confirmed that the Gaida building collapsed with six construction workers trapped underneath.

He said four victims were rescued unconscious but were later confirmed dead at Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital.

At Kurna, the service said eight students were rescued alive, while one was rescued unconscious and later confirmed dead. He said the deceased was identified as Khadija Muhammad, 14.

Speaking on the development, the Fire Service spokesperson, Abdullahi, told The Guardian that preliminary investigations revealed that the Gaida building collapsed due to the use of poor-quality materials.

He explained that findings indicated that the contractors handling the construction failed to use quality materials and that the substances used were not properly applied.

Abdullahi, however, said the Kurna building collapsed due to a large volume of water that had weakened the structure over time. He said a comprehensive report would soon be submitted to the relevant authorities.

When contacted on the development, the Public Relations Officer of the Kano State Urban Planning and Development Authority (KNUPDA), Bahijja Kabara, rejected the claim levelled against the agency.

Kabara explained that although KNUPDA was responsible for ensuring the structural fitness of buildings in the state, many property owners often bypass the statutory authority to execute their building plans.

The KNUPDA spokesperson said several building collapses were caused by the failure of technical personnel and property owners to submit their building documents for scrutiny, resulting in tragic outcomes.

According to her: “The authority is mandated to check building documents and even issue approval before construction is carried out. But what we have noticed in recent times is a violation of these standard rules.

“In some cases, some people come with a one-storey building plan for approval, but what we mostly find out is that they construct two- or three-storey buildings. Developments like these are a clear indication of possible structural failure.

“We have carried out so many enforcement exercises, and so many buildings have been marked to stop further construction.

“But many times, we don’t know what happens afterwards. However, I can assure you that we will continue to work hard to ensure strict compliance.”

But Engr. Yakasai believed some individuals preferred to use artisans or unqualified persons to supervise construction in an attempt to reduce costs, a practice that could ultimately result in greater financial losses and endanger lives.

“Some property owners hardly engage professionals in carrying out their buildings. They rather take a layman to supervise the building or do it directly because they think they are reducing costs,” Engr. Yakasai opined.

Meanwhile, a relative of one of the victims, Muhammad Abdullahi, who lost his child in the Kurna building collapse, said he had left everything to God. He said the deceased child had already been buried.