In a decisive move to combat the devastating wave of building collapses and infrastructure failures across the country, the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) has announced a sweeping set of regulatory interventions. The regulatory body is targeting unregistered practitioners, ethical misconduct, and fraudulent academic qualifications to restore public confidence in the nation’s built environment.
The strategic resolutions were finalized during COREN’s 189th Ordinary Council Meeting and detailed in a communique signed by the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the Council, Okorie Austine Uche. The measures represent one of the most aggressive enforcement campaigns launched by the council in recent years.
Rapid Response Task Force to Tackle Quackery
To address immediate threats to public safety, COREN has approved the immediate deployment of a 90-Day Engineering Regulation Monitoring and Enforcement Rapid Response Task Force. This emergency oversight group is mandated to conduct intense nationwide monitoring of construction sites, enforce strict adherence to engineering standards, and root out unqualified individuals overseeing complex projects.
According to the council, the task force serves as an emergency intervention mechanism to mitigate the rising risks associated with poor engineering practices. By ensuring that only certified and registered professionals manage critical infrastructure projects, COREN hopes to significantly reduce the human and financial toll of structural failures.
Tribunal Activated and Academic Fraud Cases Uncovered
In addition to physical project monitoring, COREN is turning its attention to internal professional discipline and credential fraud. The council has officially activated the Engineering Disciplinary Tribunal, a formal framework empowered to investigate allegations of professional misconduct, breaches of ethics, and other infractions by registered practitioners.
Furthermore, the council disclosed that it has uncovered nine instances where individuals submitted forged academic certificates to obtain engineering licenses. Demonstrating a zero-tolerance stance against credential fraud, COREN has referred these cases to relevant anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies for immediate investigation and prosecution.
“The Council remains committed to protecting the profession from individuals who attempt to gain entry through fraudulent means and will continue to collaborate with relevant authorities to ensure that offenders are brought to justice,” the regulatory body stated, emphasizing that integrity and public trust are paramount to engineering governance.
Enhancing Education, Safety Standards, and Digitization
The regulatory overhaul also includes a series of institutional reforms aimed at long-term capacity building and industry alignment:
- Mass Practitioner Registration: The council approved the certification of 3,328 new engineering practitioners across various categories and 107 engineering firms to expand the pool of verified professionals.
- Education Quality Assurance: The Engineering and Technology Accreditation Bureau will be officially gazetted, solidifying COREN’s statutory responsibility to accredit engineering programs across Nigerian tertiary institutions.
- Construction Safety Guidelines: A national stakeholder engagement will soon be convened to review the Draft Harmonised National Construction Safety Guidelines, aiming to establish a standardized safety code for all construction sites.
- Digital Portal Upgrade: COREN is completing the deployment of an upgraded digital portal to streamline registration, improve operational efficiency, and make credential verification easier for developers and the public.
Public Enlightenment Campaign Launched
Recognizing that many property developers unwittingly hire unqualified individuals, COREN is launching a massive nationwide public awareness campaign. The initiative will educate the public, developers, contractors, and government agencies on the severe legal and physical risks associated with hiring unregistered practitioners.
This comprehensive strategy comes at a critical time as stakeholders continue to demand accountability following high-profile building collapses in Lagos, Anambra, and other regions, which are frequently blamed on poor supervision, substandard materials, and the reliance on quacks. Through these integrated efforts, COREN aims to enforce engineering excellence and safeguard lives nationwide.