*The Nigerian Institution of Structural Engineers states its long-term target is to get the various government organisations to courageously implement the Federal Government Executive Order 5 ceding major engineering works to Nigerian engineers: local content in engineering design and construction

Emmanuel Akosile | ConsumerConnect

The Nigerian Institution of Structural Engineers (NIStructE) has heaped the blame of continual building collapse to the undue delay by the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) to approve its draft guidelines to regulate the practice of Structural Engineering in the country.

Engr. Dr. Kehinde Osifala stated this at the investiture of NIStructE’s 20th President, at the College Hall, Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Lagos, recently.

Engr. Osifala disclosed the COREN Act of 2019 has major structural engineering components, and there must be institutional guidelines in place to ensure their implementation, ThisDay report said.

He said: “NIStructE submitted a draft law to COREN with which to regulate the practice of Structural Engineering and probably reduce the rate at which buildings collapse, but, till date have received no response to the draft,”

He stated that if there was no regulation to guide the practice of Structural Engineering, buildings will continue to collapse, and again called on COREN to passionately look at and also approve the proposed draft.

The launch of the Advocacy Project is with a view to minimising or eradicating incidences of building collapse and the attendant loss of human and material resources, stated the expert.

Osifala explained that “our long-term target is to get the various government organisations to courageously implement the Federal Government Executive Order 5, which cede major engineering works to Nigerian Engineers, that is, local content in engineering design and construction.

“One of our current achievements is the assistance given to the Lagos State in carrying out preliminary assessment of the buildings affected by the EndSARS protest and the structural assessment of buildings affected by the explosion at Abule Ado.”

He as well encouraged engineering family members and other professionals in the built environment to practise the profession in their areas of competence.

He further noted that “anybody that practises outside his or her area of competence is a quack.

“Presently, there is confusion in the engineering family as regards who should talk when a collapse occurs; the Nigerian Society of Engineering, the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, COREN, the Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineering, NICE, or the Nigerian Institution of Structural Engineers, NIStructE.

“All are jostling for prominence and relevance with each claiming authority to talk on collapse.”

According to Dr. Osifala, there are three basic engineering fields, such as civil, electrical, and mechanical. Civil Engineering is made up of structural; waste and waste water; hydro technical, geotechnical, highway, transportation and environment.

He added: “The branch of civil Engineering that studies, deals with, and is responsible for the structural behaviour, including collapse, is the structural division.

“Our ultimate dream is for NIStructE to be chartered.”