The Federal Government is partnering stakeholders in the construction industry to establish the Nigerian Engineering Codes and Standards to curb infrastructure failures, particularly cases of building collapse. It disclosed this through its Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria at the just concluded 30th Engineering Assembly which held in Abuja.
In his address at the event, the President, COREN, Ali Rabiu, said the assembly would focus its discussion on the domestication and development of codes, standards and regulations as a panacea for engineering infrastructure failures in Nigeria.
He said, “Consistent with the initiative of the council to institute the Nigerian Engineering Codes and Standards and for which a council standing committee was inaugurated, I hereby confirm as an update that much has not been achieved and there is need for a review and articulation of the issues.
“There has been various contestation on propriety of having the Nigerian codes and standards, which is the position of some stakeholders, while others advise that we adopt one of the existing ones.
“The council after a review of the situation ultimately decided that the most responsible and respectful approach was to hold a detailed discussion of the subject, hence the choice of the theme of this year’s assembly.”
Rabiu added, “It is our conviction that enacting and adaptation of Nigerian codes and standards will ensure a robust engineering practice and provide solutions to the incessant failure of engineering facilities and infrastructure in Nigeria, particularly building structures.”
The COREN president told participants at the assembly that as practitioners, they must commit to ensuring engineering solutions to the myriad of developmental challenges bedeviling Nigeria.
On the 30th Assembly, he stated that since 1992, the council had consistently convoked the Engineering Assembly as a gathering of engineering practitioners, relevant stakeholders and friends of the engineering profession in Nigeria.
“The assembly provides a unique opportunity for all of us to rub minds on topical issues affecting engineering and reflect on the growth of the profession and its contributions to the development of our great country,” Rabiu stated.
