Management of Architectural Conservation Works at National Monuments in North West Nigeria

The conservation of national monuments in North West Nigeria demands specialised management competencies that combine heritage conservation expertise, procurement management, contractor supervision, and community stakeholder engagement in challenging logistical and institutional environments. This study examines the management approaches and performance outcomes of conservation works at four national monuments in Kano, Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara states, including the Kano City Walls, the Sokoto Sultanate Palace, the Argungu Fishing Festival Grounds, and the Maradi Old Town archaeological zone. A professional case study methodology employed document review of project management records, conservation reports, and expenditure accounts, semi-structured interviews with eight project architects, five National Commission for Museums and Monuments officers, and twelve community stakeholders, and physical site assessments comparing documented before-and-after conditions. Management quality was assessed against the ICOMOS Principles for the Conservation of Heritage Sites in East Asia (adapted) and UNESCO monitoring criteria. Results reveal a consistent pattern of inadequate pre-works condition investigation, resulting in unforeseen structural discoveries that destabilise budgets and timelines. Community consultation was conducted tokenistically in three of four projects, generating post-works objections to conservation decisions. NCMM capacity constraints in project supervision resulted in contractor autonomy that diverged from approved conservation methodologies in two projects. The Kano City Walls project showed the best management outcomes, attributed to an international technical assistance partnership with the Aga Khan Foundation. The study recommends a formalised community consultation protocol and a contractor pre-qualification requirement for heritage conservation works under NCMM management. Keywords: heritage conservation management, national monuments, North West Nigeria, NCMM, conservation architecture.