By Joy Onu
President Bola Tinubu has reiterated his administration’s commitment to strengthening engineering regulation and delivering safe, durable infrastructure, saying public safety will remain at the centre of Nigeria’s infrastructure development agenda.
The President gave the assurance while declaring the 34th Engineering Assembly of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) open through the Minister of Works, David Umahi, according to a statement issued on Tuesday by the Director, Information and Public Relations, Mohamed A. Ahmed.
Addressing the assembly themed, “Advancing Public Safety in Nigeria through Strategic Engineering Regulatory Enforcement and a Tiered Sanctioning Regime,” Tinubu said effective engineering regulation is indispensable to protecting lives, restoring public confidence in the profession and ensuring that infrastructure across the country meets acceptable standards.
He stressed that engineering regulation should be viewed as a safeguard for the public rather than a punitive measure against professionals, insisting that “no road, bridge or building is more valuable than human life.”
Tinubu also reaffirmed the Federal Government’s resolve to complete the four Legacy Road Projects spanning the six geopolitical zones under the Renewed Hope Agenda, describing them as strategic investments expected to improve connectivity, stimulate economic activities and drive sustainable national development.
Speaking at the event, Umahi called for stricter enforcement of engineering standards, warning that negligence in the profession often carries irreversible consequences because structural failures leave no room for appeal.
He urged engineers supervising construction projects to maintain professional independence and resist undue influence from contractors, insisting that technical decisions must always be guided by established engineering principles.
The minister also advocated stronger disciplinary measures against unqualified and erring practitioners, saying COREN must reinforce its regulatory role to preserve the integrity of the profession and protect lives.
Highlighting the administration’s infrastructure agenda, Umahi said the ongoing Legacy Road Projects would promote economic integration, strengthen national security, generate employment and attract investment, expressing confidence that strict adherence to professional standards would help bridge Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit.
Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the minister, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Works, Rafiu Adeladan, said infrastructure development remains one of the pillars of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
He said the ministry’s flagship road projects are designed to connect communities, facilitate commerce, strengthen national integration and encourage investment, adding that competence, professionalism, quality assurance and strict compliance with due process remain essential to sustainable infrastructure delivery.
Adeladan urged engineers to uphold ethical standards and comply fully with engineering regulations in the execution of projects.
Chairman of the occasion, Aliko Dangote, represented by Prof. Hassan Umaru, described engineering excellence as the foundation of public trust, industrial competitiveness and national development.
Drawing from the Dangote Refinery project, he said rigorous engineering design, strict quality control, technical discipline and compliance with standards were critical to its successful delivery. He urged COREN to strengthen regulatory oversight and enforce disciplinary measures against erring practitioners to safeguard lives and property.
COREN President, Prof. Sadiq Zubair Abubakar, said the council has continued to align engineering education and practice with international standards while deploying digital verification and enforcement systems to improve transparency, eliminate fraudulent practices and strengthen regulatory compliance.
He added that engineering graduates are required to undergo mandatory industrial training before participating in the National Youth Service Corps, describing practical exposure as essential to professional competence.
Also speaking, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Bosun Tijjani, described science, technology and engineering as critical drivers of innovation, economic growth and public safety, pledging continued collaboration with engineering regulatory agencies.
Representing the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang called for an enabling environment that would allow engineers to contribute more effectively to national development.
APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, commended COREN for strengthening engineering regulation and praised the Federal Ministry of Works for the progress recorded on the Legacy Road Projects and other major road projects across the six geopolitical zones.
Earlier, Prof. O. A. U. Uche urged government, academia, industry, professional bodies and the private sector to strengthen collaboration in advancing engineering excellence and sustaining quality infrastructure development.
The assembly reaffirmed COREN’s commitment to strengthening engineering regulation, improving enforcement and implementing a tiered sanctioning regime to enhance public safety and promote sustainable infrastructure development in Nigeria.
