Zaria Mosque collapse: Architects want property sealed, calls for forensic investigation

The Nigerian Institute of Architects yesterday said the entire area of the Zaria central mosque that collapsed recently should be sealed off for safety purposes.

The NIA constituted a committee, comprising senior members, academia and government agencies, to investigate the factors that led to the collapse and recommend ways to restore the building.

Samuel Obaje, Chairman of the NIA, Kaduna State Chapter, stated this while briefing newsmen in Kaduna.

He said preliminary findings from the architectural team indicate that the building had experienced wear and tear, common in aged structures.

Obaje explained that the recent renovation and expansion of the mosque introduced destabilization factors.

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He said the modern and old concrete structures settled differently, causing pressure that the old structure couldn’t withstand, which ultimately resulted in the roof collapse.