COREN Unveils Tougher Sanctions, Revives Tribunal

The Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) on Tuesday disclosed that it has introduced a tiered sanctions regime and reactivated its disciplinary tribunal.

This, the council explained, was part of reforms aimed at tackling engineering misconduct, eliminating quackery and strengthening public safety across the country.

The COREN President, Professor Sadiq Abubakar, announced the measures in Abuja during a news conference ahead of the Council’s 34th Engineering Assembly, scheduled to hold from July 13 to 15 in Abuja.

He said the new regulatory framework is designed to improve compliance with engineering laws, promote accountability and prevent infrastructure failures through stricter monitoring and enforcement.

According to him, the sanctions framework will ensure that disciplinary measures are proportionate to the severity of offences, ranging from corrective actions and mandatory professional development to licence suspension, withdrawal and prosecution where necessary.

“The objective is not merely to punish, but to deter misconduct, encourage compliance and strengthen public confidence in the engineering profession,” Abubakar said.

He also announced the reactivation of the COREN disciplinary tribunal to handle cases involving professional misconduct by registered engineers.

Abubakar described the move as a critical step towards restoring discipline and professionalism within the sector.

Speaking on the theme of the 34th Engineering Assembly, “Advancing Public Safety in Nigeria through Strategic Engineering Regulation, Enforcement, and a Tiered Sanctioning Regime,” Abubakar said it would focus on strengthening engineering governance in response to growing infrastructure demands, rapid urbanisation and climate-related challenges.
He expressed concern over recurring building collapses, industrial accidents and the activities of unqualified practitioners, warning that such incidents continue to undermine public confidence, endanger lives and discourage investment.

The COREN President explained that the Council was shifting from its traditional role of registration and licensing to a proactive regulatory model centred on risk-based monitoring, continuous professional development and evidence-driven enforcement.

Abubakar disclosed that COREN was pursuing amendments to the Engineers (Registration, etc.) Act to strengthen its regulatory powers while accelerating digital transformation through technology-driven compliance and monitoring systems.

He urged members of the public to report unqualified persons engaging in engineering practice, stressing that public participation is vital to safeguarding lives and protecting infrastructure.

Also speaking, the COREN Vice President, Engr. Olaolu Ogunduyile appealed to journalists and Nigerians to support the Council’s campaign against quackery by exposing illegal engineering activities.

He also highlighted progress in local content development, revealing that a transformer manufacturing facility is expected to be commissioned in Lagos as part of efforts to boost domestic engineering capacity.

On his part, the COREN Registrar, Professor Uche Okorie, said the Council had intensified public awareness campaigns because engineering regulation is ultimately about protecting lives and property.

Okorie identified inadequate funding as a major challenge limiting nationwide engineering monitoring, particularly efforts to expand regulatory coverage across the country’s 774 local government areas.