N’Assembly Blames Engineers For Collapsed Buildings, Bridges

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Works, Senator Mpigi Barinada, has expressed deep concern over the rising incidents of building and infrastructure collapse across Nigeria.

He described the trend as a national alarm bell and a stain on the engineering profession.

He spoke in Abuja on Tuesday at the 33rd COREN Engineering Assembly.

Represented by his Senior Legislative Aide, Ashley Emenike, Barinada lamented that the frequency of collapsed buildings, failed bridges, and deteriorating roads was unacceptable and symptomatic of systemic failure within Nigeria’s engineering ecosystem.

The senator said it was disturbing that in the 21st century, Nigeria was still contending with structures collapsing under rainfall or bridges giving way under minimal pressure.

He called it an indictment of professional standards and regulatory enforcement.

” While we celebrate progress we must also squarely confront the growing concern over engineering failures. We have witnessed collapsed buildings, failed bridges and road infrastructure that have crumbled, and these have continued to claim lives, waste resources and tarnish the image of your profession.

“This persistent failure of infrastructure is a national alarm bell. It reflects lapses in compliance, it reflects lapses in poor supervision and in some cases quackery which is a demonstration of a breakdown in a regulatory environment.

” It is unacceptable that in the 21st century buildings are still collapsing under rain and bridges are caving in under minimal pressure,” the senator said.

He, however, pledged the Senate Committee’s readiness to work closely with COREN and other stakeholders to address the challenges, promising legislative support to strengthen compliance and enforcement of engineering standards across the country.

“We will assist in strengthening legislative frameworks that will enforce mandatory compliance in engineering standards, advocate for full implementation of Nigerian building codes across all states, and support public enlightenment,” he said.

Barinada also commended COREN for tying license renewal to active participation in professional development events like the Engineering Assembly.

He noted that such a move would help to preserve the integrity of the profession and protect the public from the dangers posed by incompetence.

While acknowledging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s infrastructure drive under the Renewed Hope Agenda, the senator cited the completion and advancement of over 420 federal roads and bridge projects as evidence of ongoing progress.

He also commended the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, for his execution of key engineering projects that have enhanced Abuja’s functionality and aesthetics.

He urged engineers, regulators, legislators, and private sector players to act as joint custodians of national development, adding that the goal should be to build infrastructure that is durable, reliable, and worthy of the Nigerian people’s trust.

“Let us commit to building a Nigeria where every road will last, the bridges will withstand the test of time, and every engineer is accorded their deserved respect,” he stated.