President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) to strengthen engineering regulation, enforce professional standards, and impose appropriate sanctions on erring practitioners in a bid to reduce infrastructure failures and enhance public safety across the country.
The President gave the directive during the opening of the 34th Engineering Assembly of COREN held in Abuja. Represented by the Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, Tinubu emphasized that Nigeria can no longer afford avoidable engineering failures that result in loss of lives, destruction of property, and wastage of public resources.
Speaking on the theme, “Advancing Public Safety in Nigeria through Strategic Engineering Regulation, Enforcement and a Tiered Sanction Regime,” the President stressed that engineering regulation must move beyond a reactive approach to a preventive, compliance-driven, and accountable system. He noted that engineering extends beyond the construction of roads, bridges, and buildings, as it directly affects the safety and well-being of Nigerians who rely on public infrastructure daily.
Tinubu described COREN as a critical institution responsible for protecting the public from substandard engineering practices and ensuring professional accountability. According to him, regulation should not be viewed as punishment but as a necessary mechanism for safeguarding lives, investments, and national assets. He further emphasized that no infrastructure project is more valuable than human life.
The President reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to delivering durable infrastructure under the Renewed Hope Agenda, revealing that ongoing road projects are being designed with life spans ranging between 50 and 100 years, unlike many past projects that deteriorated within a few years of completion.
Also speaking at the event, Minister of Works David Umahi warned engineers against compromising professional ethics by allowing contractors to influence engineering decisions. He urged COREN to strengthen its disciplinary framework and ensure that only qualified professionals are allowed to practice engineering in Nigeria.
COREN President, Prof. Sadiq Abubakar, highlighted the council’s efforts to improve engineering education and professional regulation. He disclosed that COREN, in collaboration with the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), introduced admission quotas for engineering programmes to enhance training quality and professional competence.
Prof. Abubakar, however, identified quackery, weak enforcement of standards, poor compliance, and deteriorating infrastructure as major challenges facing the engineering profession. He advocated a shift towards predictive and preventive engineering governance to minimize infrastructure failures.
Representing the Dangote Group, the company’s Chief Economist, Prof. Hassan Mahmoud, emphasized the importance of engineering excellence in driving industrial growth and economic development. Drawing lessons from the Dangote Refinery project, he stated that strict adherence to engineering standards and quality control remains essential for sustainable infrastructure development.
Stakeholders at the assembly agreed that stronger regulation, improved compliance systems, enhanced professional ethics, and proportionate sanctions will play a vital role in reducing infrastructure failures and promoting sustainable national development in Nigeria.