Tag: COREN

OSOGBO – The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Accord Party in Osun have traded words over the failed section of a newly inaugurated flyover in Osogbo.

A portion of the flyover, inaugurated on July 1, reportedly failed in the early hours of Friday following a downpour.

The APC, in a statement by its Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, on Friday in Osogbo, expressed surprise that the structure developed cracks just weeks after its inauguration with fanfare.

The party described the incident as an indication that projects executed by the current administration are substandard.

It called for the intervention of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), and other professional bodies to conduct integrity tests on the flyover in the interest of public safety.

“It is our resolve that these engineering bodies should urgently prevail on Gov. Ademola Adeleke to halt further inauguration of roads and flyovers in the state.

“This will allow construction experts to carry out thorough investigations in the overall interest of the safety of residents and Nigerians at large,” the APC stated.

However, the Accord Party, in a statement by its Chairman, Mr Victor Akande, alleged that the damaged portion of the flyover was vandalised by members of the APC.

The party claimed it had received credible reports of a disturbing pattern of vandalism targeting public infrastructure in the state.

“These acts are not ordinary criminal activities but appear to be part of a calculated attempt by desperate elements in the opposition APC to undermine and discredit the achievements of the current administration ahead of the governorship election,” it said.

It added that such actions were aimed at creating a false impression of government failure.

“These acts of sabotage are strongly condemned. Those responsible should note that public infrastructure belongs to the people of Osun, not any political party.

“The destruction of roads, public facilities, streetlights and other government assets is an attack on the collective interest of citizens and will not deter the governor from delivering dividends of democracy,” the party added.

The Accord Party urged security agencies to investigate the incidents thoroughly, identify those responsible regardless of political affiliation, and ensure they face the full weight of the law.(NAN)

ABUJA – The Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN),has rolled out reforms to tackle quackery, strengthen project monitoring and prevent building collapse and other engineering-related failures.

The Registrar of COREN, Prof. Uche Okorie disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja at the end of COREN’s 189th Ordinary Council Meeting

Okorie said major reforms were unveiled to strengthen engineering regulation, public safety, and professional standards.

He explained that the meeting also addressed issues on how to improve professional standards, and advance key institutional reforms.

“Among the key decisions approved by Council is the establishment of a 90-Day Engineering Regulation Monitoring and Enforcement (ERM&E) Rapid Response Task Force.

“The task force will intensify the fight against quackery, strengthen project monitoring, and support efforts aimed at preventing building collapse and other engineering-related failures,” he said.

Okorie said the Council also approved the launch of a nationwide public awareness campaign to educate Nigerians on promoting compliance with engineering regulations and standards.

He said the campaign will also focus on the dangers of engaging unregistered engineering practitioners.

Okorie added that the Council approved the activation of the Engineering Disciplinary Tribunal to provide a framework for addressing cases of professional misconduct and enforcing accountability within the engineering profession.

According to him, the setting up of the disciplinary tribunal is a major step towards strengthening professional discipline and ethical conduct.

The COREN Registrar also disclosed that the Council approved the registration of 3,328 engineering practitioners across various categories and 107 engineering firms to deepen regulation and improve service delivery,

He said the Council also directed a review of existing registration guidelines to reflect emerging industry realities and global best practices.

The Registrar said the Council further reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the integrity of the engineering profession in the country.

According to him, the Council has directed the reporting of nine cases involving fraudulent academic certificates submitted for registration, to the appropriate anti-corruption authorities for investigation and possible prosecution.

“To strengthen engineering education and quality assurance, Council approved the gazetting of the Engineering and Technology Accreditation Bureau (ETAB).

“It reiterated COREN’s statutory role in the accreditation of engineering programmes in Nigeria,” he said.

Okorie said in line with ongoing efforts to improve safety within the construction industry,the Council approved a national stakeholders’ engagement on the Draft Harmonised National Construction Safety Guidelines for the Nigerian Construction Industry.

He said the engagement is expected to bring together key stakeholders to develop a more robust framework for promoting safe construction practices nationwide.

As part of ongoing digital transformation initiatives, the Registrar said the Council has directed the completion and deployment of the upgraded COREN digital portal

Okorie said the digitisation initiative aimed at improving operational efficiency and service delivery to practitioners and stakeholders.

He reaffirmed the Council’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property, and ensuring stronger collaboration with government institutions, industry stakeholders, and professional bodies.

The Registrar also reiterated COREN’s unwavering commitment to strengthening engineering governance, promoting professionalism and supporting national development through effective regulation of engineering practice. (NAN)

BAUCHI – Prof. Adisa Bello, former Registrar, Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), says the council is collaborating with the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), to curb quackery in Nigeria.

Bello stated this in Bauchi on Monday during a public lecture and launching of a magazine by the final year students of Engineering Department, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi.

According to Bello, COREN has an Engineering Regulatory Monitoring Unit visible and working in 29 states of the country.

“If the unit finds anyone culpable of quackery, the person will be handed to the ICPC for further prosecution.

“COREN with the council for regulation of Engineering in Nigeria started in 1970, and its laws were amended in 1992, 2004 and 2018.

“The specific one I’m referring to is the amendment in 2018, which categorically gave COREN the mandate to prosecute offenders of engineering,” he said.

He warned that anybody that was not a registered practitioner in engineering and practicing engineering would be prosecuted by COREN.

“And COREN is doing everything humanly possible to ensure that this is done. COREN currently has a memorandum of Understanding with the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, and this commission is doing everything possible to ensure that offenders are prosecuted,” he said.

Bello, also a lecturer in the department of Mechanical Engineering, ATBU, recounted how a multi-billion Naira 21 storey building collapsed in Lagos, where COREN did investigation, after which some engineers were found wanting and handed over to the ICPC for prosecution.

“COREN has an investigative panel and once this panel establishes that someone is culpable, it takes you to the ICPC and then straight to the court.

“In my day, we normally write examinations for qualifications.

”We have a situation currently where an individual came with a fake result and we called on the ICPC and they have done all their investigations, and found the person culpable and right now he is under prosecution,” he said.

The don called on higher institutions and academics to ensure that all engineering programmes were properly accredited by the National University Commission (NUC) and COREN.

In a paper entitled: Smart Cities and the role of Engineering and Technology in building the Urban future, Dr Ibrahim Ikara, Head of Department, Civil Engineering, ATBU, said engineers played a critical role in smart cities.

Ikara said that this could be through the design of modern infrastructure, disaster resilient systems and eco-friendly neighborhoods.

Represented by Muhammad Suleiman, the don listed some of the challenges of building smart cities in developing nations to include infrastructure deficit, limited funding, and low level of digital literacy among citizens.

He urgdd policy makers to pririotise Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), to achieve the set goals. (NAN)