Infrastructural failures: Experts seek stricter measures to control engineering practice

‘Mediocrity, non-partisanship, problems of Nigeria’s democracy’
To arrest infrastructural failures, experts in the built environment have advocated stricter measures to control engineering practice and punishment for professionals who fail to adhere to the rules.

They said the call becomes necessary following the incessant infrastructural failures in the country and the burden they place on the engineering family, especially civil/structural engineers.

Prof. Ikponmwosa Efe Ewaen, who led the call during the investiture ceremony of Johnson Adegboyega Adeoye as the 22nd President of the Nigerian Institution of Structural Engineers (NIStrustE), noted that errors had been committed in the past in managing the crises.

According to him, “for us to mitigate against infrastructure collapse in Nigeria, which has become a burden to civil/structural engineering family, our national character (self-discipline, core values, and integrity) must be re-appraised and re-engineered in line with global best practices.”

IN another development, a professor of Political Science, Lagos State University (LASU), Kayode Soremekun, has said that mediocrity and non-partisanship are problems of democracy in the country.

He stated this during the yearly Nigerian Political Science Association (NIPSA) Southwest zone conference held at Lead City University, Ibadan, with the theme, “Nigeria: Democracy, Ominous Prophecies and Service Delivery.”

Soremekun said that the problem of Nigerian democracy was born before independence, citing instances where political observers, pre-independence, presaged the tragedy of Nigeria’s democracy.

According to him, Nigeria’s democracy had been elite-driven, which necessitated the failure in service delivery.

Ewaen, who spoke on the topic: “Civil/Structural Engineers and the burden of infrastructural collapse in Nigeria”, urged the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) to ensure that practisinglicence and seals issued to personnel have specialisation and specific practice area.

He also advised engineers to practise their profession ethically or be prepared to be sanctioned if found wanting.

Adeoye, who lamented that in recent times, complaints have come up in the public sphere on the efficacy (quality) of some cement brands in Nigeria, urged the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to continually ensure that all cement brands for construction purposes in Nigeria meet minimum global standards.

He also called for the establishment of Materials Testing Centres in all states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for materials testing, while institutions of higher learning that are running related programmes should be encouraged to participate in materials testing quality control and assurance services.

On his part, President of COREN, Prof. Sadiq Abubakar, lamented the great challenges confronting professionals in the industry, especially those assigned the responsibility of overseeing the infrastructure.

He noted that infrastructural collapse is not only a burden on structural engineers but to all as it leads to the inability to complete projects within cost time and quality specification, and the inability to satisfy the expectation of sponsors of projects.

Abubakar, who was represented by a COREN member, Babajide Ajanaku, said it is crucial to look beyond the existing criteria of time, cost scope and quality when seeking to determine whether a project has failed.

Also, President of Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Margaret AinaOguntala, represented by Dr Felicia Agubata, called for collaboration between government and professionals in the built environment to stem the rising cases of building collapse.

Earlier, the past President of NIStrustE, Peter OsarodionIgbinijesu, solicited engineers’ commitment to the values of integrity, collaboration and continuous learning to foster a culture of excellence and innovation that will propel the institution to new successes and achievements.

IN another development, a professor of Political Science, Lagos State University (LASU), Kayode Soremekun, has said that mediocrity and non-partisanship are problems of democracy in the country.

He stated this during the yearly Nigerian Political Science Association (NIPSA) Southwest zone conference held at Lead City University, Ibadan, with the theme, “Nigeria: Democracy, Ominous Prophecies and Service Delivery.”

Soremekun said that the problem of Nigerian democracy was born before independence, citing instances where political observers, pre-independence, presaged the tragedy of Nigeria’s democracy.

According to him, Nigeria’s democracy had been elite-driven, which necessitated the failure in service delivery.