Prof. Sadiq Abubakar, President and Chairman-in-Council of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), has said the council is intensifying efforts to enforce stricter engineering standards nationwide.
Abubakar made the remark on Saturday at a retreat in Abuja themed “Reinforcing COREN’s Regulatory Mandate: Aligning Governance, Structures, and Operations for Effective Engineering Practice Regulation in Nigeria.”
He noted that the move was necessitated by unethical practices and quackery, which continue to threaten public safety and infrastructure development.
According to him, the strategic retreat aims to strengthen governance and improve the regulation of engineering practice in the country.
The retreat brought together council members, regional steering committee chairmen, and the registrar.
Abubakar said the programme was coming at a critical time of leadership transition and institutional reforms within COREN.
“This retreat comes at a time of significant transition within COREN, with more than half of its council membership newly constituted and a new registrar appointed,” he said.
He explained that beyond administrative orientation, the retreat focused on equipping members with the tools to address persistent regulatory gaps.
“The council now has more than 50 per cent new members following the end of the previous tenure. About 20 new persons have joined the council and we have also appointed a new registrar.
“It is therefore important to orientate the new members and the new registrar on our enabling laws, structures, operations, expectations, as well as the challenges facing the country and Africa in general.
“This is one of the key mandates of COREN. We regulate 11 sectors — including oil and gas, construction, mining, power, aviation, and transport — with over 15 million practitioners.
“Engineers, technologists, technicians, craftsmen, and artisans must be properly regulated and guided to ensure resilient infrastructure, protection of lives and property, and safety of investments.”
Abubakar added that effective regulation would create an enabling environment for investors through durable infrastructure that can stand the test of time.
He said the retreat also provided a platform to discuss key reforms, including amendments to the COREN Act, the fifth edition of the COREN Standing Orders, and evolving government policies on tax reforms and funding structures.
The COREN president said the expectations from the retreat include clearer roles between council and management, improved governance efficiency, strengthened institutional capacity, strategies for financial sustainability, and better engineering practice.
In his remarks, the COREN Registrar, Prof. Okorie Uche, emphasised the need for synergy between policy formulation and implementation.
“The essence of this retreat is to ensure that those who make policies and those who implement them are on the same page,” Uche said.
“We need a shared understanding of our roles to effectively regulate engineering practice in Nigeria and safeguard public welfare.”
He added that improved regulation would help curb recurring incidents such as building collapses and infrastructure failures, thereby ensuring a safer and more prosperous society.
