The Obong of Calabar, Ndidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V, has urged the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) to push for stricter enforcement of standards for construction materials to curb the rising cases of building collapse in the country.

The monarch made the call when the President of the NSE, Engr. Ali Rabiu, led members of the society on a courtesy visit to his palace in Calabar, Cross River State, at the weekend.

The visit was part of activities marking the NSE Engineering Week and the inauguration of the 19th chairman and executive committee of the Calabar branch.

The Obong expressed concern that blame for building failures was often placed on contractors and engineers, while inadequate regulation of construction materials received little attention.

He specifically urged the NSE to engage the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) over what he described as the circulation of substandard construction materials in the country.

According to him, materials that fail to meet prescribed standards should not be allowed into the country, stressing that stronger regulation was needed to prevent the use of inferior products in construction.

The monarch cited reinforcement rods and timber among materials whose quality, he said, should be closely monitored to ensure that builders obtain the correct specifications for construction projects.

He said the use of inferior materials could compromise the integrity of buildings and other infrastructure, thereby contributing to the increasing cases of building collapse.

The Obong said the problem was not limited to the engineering sector, noting that effective standardisation was also important in protecting Nigerians in areas such as health and other critical sectors.

Responding to the monarch’s concern, the outgoing chairman of the NSE Calabar branch, Engr. Igbor Alaga, assured him that the association was already taking steps to address issues surrounding substandard construction materials and poor adherence to engineering standards.

Alaga said the NSE was concerned about the quality of materials being used for construction and their implications for public safety, stressing that engineers had a responsibility to ensure that approved standards were followed in the execution of projects.

He thanked the Obong for raising the issue, saying the association would continue to engage relevant regulatory authorities and other stakeholders to strengthen compliance with standards and help reduce cases of building failures and collapse.

Earlier, Rabiu described the Obong as an eminent engineer and a critical stakeholder in nation building, noting that the monarch’s engineering background had complemented his role as a traditional ruler.

He said the NSE, the umbrella body for engineers in Nigeria, had more than 95,000 members, 94 branches across Nigeria and the diaspora, six branches outside the country and 25 professional divisions.

Rabiu said the society selected outstanding branches for presidential visits because it would be difficult to visit all its branches within the two-year tenure of a president.

He said Calabar was selected as one of such branches and that the visit would also provide an opportunity to assess the state’s infrastructure development.

The NSE president commended the Obong for his contributions to the development and peace of Calabar, describing traditional rulers as important partners in nation building.

He also congratulated the incoming chairman of the Calabar branch, Professor Adeke, and said the society remained committed to democratic leadership transition.

Rabiu said the NSE had a two-year tenure for its national president and branch chairmen, with no elongation of tenure, describing the association as a democratic professional body.

He further praised the peaceful atmosphere in Calabar, saying the city remained one of the places where people could move around at night without the level of insecurity experienced in some other parts of the country.