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COREN’s 32nd assembly to address incessant infrastructure failure-President
Sadiq Abubakar, President of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), says its 32nd COREN Engineering Assembly is poised to address the incessant engineering infrastructure failure in Nigeria
Abubakar made this this known yesterday in Abuja ,while briefing journalists on the 32nd COREN Engineering Assembly scheduled to hold on Aug.5 to Aug. 7 in Abuja.
He said that the Assembly with the theme, “Regulating Engineering Profession for Shared Prosperity in Nigeria “would have President Bola Tinubu, as the Special Guest of Honour.
He said COREN created new departments and united as part of efforts to decentralise its operations, ensure effective engagement at the grassroots and promote sanity in the practice of engineering for a more positive impacts in Nigeria.
“Attendance at the Assembly is compulsory for all registered engineering practitioners and a requirement for the renewal of practicing licence for both individual and firms to minimise quackery responsible for the incessant engineering infrastructural failures.
“In response to the call on COREN to rise to the occasion to check the incessant failures of engineering infrastructure, especially building collapse across the country.
“The Minister of Works and the Chief Host of the COREN event, David Umahi, will inaugurate National Technical Committee to drive the Engineering Regulations Monitoring (ERME) at national level similar to the existing practice at regional and state levels.
“The ERME inspectors are to be supported by Engineering Intelligence and Surveillance (EIS) Task Force and EIS Whistle Blowers operating at national, regional and state levels”.
Abubakar said that the on-going COREN restructuring, and reforms were in line with the roadmap endorsed at the 31st Engineering Assembly held in 2023 for more effective and efficient operations.
He added that the improvement was also expected to advance, foster and strengthen existing partnerships and collaborations.
He said that to support these noble changes, Engineers Registration among others and Amendment Act No. 3, 2018 have been harmonised into a single document for easy reference and citation.
Abubakar said that eight new regulations were approved and gazette, which brought the number to over 30.
“These are veritable instruments that facilitate effective monitoring, enforcement, sanction and prosecution of quacks, offenders, among others,’’he said
Abubakar said the assembly would also have a session to guide Nigeria to prepare its submission and application for admission into Sydney and Dublin Accords for engineering technologists, technicians, craftsmen and artisans, respectively.
He said these associations would aid Nigerian practitioners to be recognised globally and they would be able export their skills internationally.
“This is similar to the historic admission of Nigeria into Washington Accord in 2023 at Taiwan.
“Engineering Professional Associations, Universities, Polytechnics, Technical Colleges, NSC, NUC, NBTE, ITF, among others will participate in line with their mandate and assigned roles.
“This is to ensure Nigeria once again join the League of Nations in these Engineering global bodies under IEA,’’he said
Abubakar said that COREN was ever ready to improve its performance in regulating engineering education and training of practitioners.
He said this was to ensure that their practices were in line with the global standards to safeguard lives and property and ensure the prevention of the failures engineering infrastructure.
He, however, said that the council needed funding to be able to carry out its regulatory mandate.
“Thus, the council is appealing to the Federal Government to continue to fund COREN similar to its peers in the health sector.
“It is our hope and prayer that the government would reconsider its position to return the Council into funding regime for the benefit of the citizenry and the nation,’’he appealed.
President Bola Tinubu has approved the nomination of four new members to the Governing Council of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement yesterday, said the appointment is to fill existing vacancies and strengthen the board’s capacity.
The statement said the approved nominees are Mr. Olusegun Omosehin of the National Insurance Commission and Engr. Wole Ogunsanya of the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria.
Tinubu also endorsed the nomination of Sam Onyechi, who represents the Nigerian Content Consultative Forum and Barrister Owei Oyanbo from the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.
The President encouraged the new members to leverage their expertise and dedication to enhance local content development within Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
It added, “The nominations arose from the exit of previous institutional representatives from the Governing Council.
“The NCDMB Governing Council, established under Section 69 of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act, 2010, comprises representatives from key institutions.
“These include the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria, the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, the Nigerian Content Consultative Forum, and the National Insurance Commission.”
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has announced plans to construct additional hostels, rehabilitate roads, and enhance power supply in the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT).
NDDC’s Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, disclosed this during a visit to the commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt, yesterday by a delegation from the UNIPORT’s Governing Council.
Ogbuku stated that the NDDC had committed to upgrading facilities at UNIPORT as part of efforts to foster partnership with educational institutions across the Niger Delta.
According to him, the implementation of additional projects at the university forms part of a broader strategy to improve education standards in the region.
“Aside from the construction of new hostel blocks and installation of a 300 KVA solar inverter system, the NDDC will also facilitate more projects in the university.
“The commission will also deploy its engineers to assess the condition of UNIPORT’s roads and hostels for potential rehabilitation,” he said.
Ogbuku noted that upon completion, the projects would add to various initiatives previously undertaken by the commission at the university.
“These and other projects reflect our commitment to actualising President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda in the Niger Delta region,” he added.
He reaffirmed the NDDC’s dedication to fostering development and strengthening partnerships across the region.
Earlier, Sen. Mao Ohuanbunwa, Chairman of UNIPORT’s Governing Council, who led the delegation commended the current leadership of the NDDC for its achievements in accelerating development in the Niger Delta.
He highlighted the university’s infrastructural challenges, noting that it lacked adequate facilities to accommodate its growing student population, and appealed for the NDDC’s support in addressing the shortfall.
“Currently, UNIPORT has a total student population of about 50,000, while its hostel accommodation capacity can only cater for 5,000 students.
“We therefore urge the NDDC to assist in the construction of additional hostels, improve transportation facilities, and facilitate the acquisition of gas turbines to enhance power supply for our students,” Ohuanbunwa pleaded.
The Vice Chancellor of UNIPORT, Prof. Owunari Georgewill, commended NDDC for its impactful projects across the Niger Delta and extended an invitation to the commission to participate in the institution’s forthcoming 50th anniversary celebrations.
The Senate has rejected a motion to rename the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters after the former chairman of the defunct National Electoral Commission, late Prof Humphrey Nwosu.
Nwosu presided over the June 12, 1993, presidential election, which was truncated by the former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd).
The election which was won by the late business mogul, Chief MKO Abiola, was adjudged to be the freest and fairest in the electoral history of Nigeria.
The motion to rename INEC after Nwosu was re-sponsored by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe yesterday after lawmakers threw it out last Wednesday.
Abaribe called for posthumous national honours to be conferred on Nwosu in recognition of his role in Nigeria’s democratic evolution.
However, the proposal sparked a heated debate once again, with lawmakers deeply divided over Nwosu’s legacy.
Senator Osita Ngwu acknowledged that Nwosu operated under a military regime, which restricted his ability to announce the results.
He argued that “there was no way he would have announced the results with a gun to his head. That doesn’t change the fact that some of us see him as a hero.”
Senator Austin Akobundu, however, described it as most uncharitable for lawmakers to dismiss Nwosu’s contributions, insisting that he deserved a place in Nigeria’s hall of honour.
On the other hand, several senators like Senator Jimoh Ibrahim dismissed the idea outright, questioning why the Senate should honour someone who failed to announce the results insisting that “nothing should be named after him”.
Senator Cyril Fasuyi argued that history does not reward efforts, but only results.
“As long as he did not announce the result, whether under duress or not, I am against naming INEC headquarters after him,” he submitted.
Also, Senator Sunday Karimi criticised Nwosu for lacking the courage to speak out, while Senator Afolabi Salisu warned that immortalising him would undermine the memory of MKO Abiola, the widely accepted winner of the June 12, 1993, annulled election.
“Any attempt to do anything beyond a one-minute silence is to rubbish Abiola’s legacy,” he tendered.
After intense deliberation, most senators rejected the motion through a voice vote.
They, however, agreed to honour him with a one-minute silence and extend condolences to his family, effectively dismissing the other prayers to immortalise Nwosu.