Abuja: Stakeholders in the engineering sector have identified the lack of effective engineering administration as a major contributor to the incidences of building collapse in the country. They made this known at the Nigerian Institute of Civil Engineers (NICE) 5th Engr. Umar Jibrin Distinguished Annual Public Lecture on Saturday in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the lecture, which was organized by NICE in honor of Jibrin who dedicated decades of engineering skills to national development, had the theme: ‘Effective Engineering Administration as a Panacea for Building and Infrastructure Collapse’. The keynote speaker, Prof. Okorie Uche, Registrar, Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), stated that building collapse was a national concern. He attributed it to the absence of qualified supervision, use of substandard materials, lack of enforcement of regulations, inadequate or expired structural designs, corruption in planning approvals, and poor maintenance culture.
Uche emphasized that engineering administration is the backbone of any successful infrastructure project, encompassing planning, research allocation, project management, policy implementation, and adherence to regulatory standards. He explained that when executed properly, it ensures that engineering projects meet global standards of quality, durability, and safety. Uche highlighted the need to prioritize long-term safety over short-term profits and to empower engineers to lead.
He also pointed out that underfunding COREN, which is responsible for the monitoring and regulations of engineering in Nigeria, undermines the process, calling for a reversal of that situation. The guest speaker, Mustafa Shehu, President of the World Federation of Engineering Organisations (WFEO), urged Africa not to be left out of global engineering best practices.
The National Chairman of NICE, Tokunbo Ajanaku, stated that the annual lecture serves as a vital platform for reflection and meaningful engagement on matters that concern engineering and society. He stressed the importance of examining the frameworks of engineering administration, including regulatory systems, project supervision, enforcement of standards, and leadership within engineering institutions and agencies.
Mr. Umar Jibrin, in whose honor the lecture was organized, commended NICE for sustaining the annual lecture, expressing his elation and being impressed by the lecture’s progression.