COREN tries erring engineers

The Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) last week commenced trial of some engineers found wanting in the profession.

The investigative panel was chaired by a former president of Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Mr Olumuyiwa Alade Ajibola.

COREN heard the case involving a collapsed hotel building in Zone 8, Lokoja, Kogi State.

Other cases being investigated by the council are the failed small earth dams in Yola and Tiks and Partners, an unregistered firm, rendering services as consulting firm.

Ajibola said COREN by the act establishing it can investigate and sanction any engineer found wanting in the profession.

He said in a situation where those involved in failed construction works are not engineers, the council will recommend their prosecution by the police or appropriate authorities.

Ajibola cautioned Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in Nigeria to avoid awarding construction contracts to quacks and unregistered engineers, adding that the council is set to institute legal actions against them when they are discovered.

He blamed collapse of buildings in different parts of the country on incompetent hands, parading themselves as professionals, saying to curb this.

“Members of the public should be aware of many quacks in the system. Only engineers registered with COREN are professionals.

‘The biggest offence in the engineering profession is for people to say that they are engineers when they’re not register with COREN.

“We’re going to go through our legal system to fight with those that deliberately choose to violate the COREN law, by giving jobs to unregistered companies,” he promised.