By Angela Atabo

Stakeholders in the engineering sector have identified the lack of effective engineering administration as a major contributor to the incidences of building collapse in the country.

They made this known at the Nigerian Institute of Civil Engineers (NICE) 5th Engr. Umar Jibrin Distinguished Annual Public Lecture on Saturday in Abuja.

The lecture had as its theme: “Effective Engineering Administration as a Panacea for Building and Infrastructure Collapse”.

It was organised by NICE in honour of Jibrin who dedicated decades of engineering skills to national development.

The keynote speaker, Prof. Okorie Uche, Registrar, Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), said building collapse was a national concern.

He attributed it to the absence of qualified supervision, use of substandard materials, lack of enforcement of regulations, inadequate or expired structural designs, corruption in planning approvals and poor maintenance culture.

“From residential building to bridge, roads, grid failure and public infrastructure failure, Nigeria has witnessed numerous catastrophic failures; these incidents are not merely accident but symptoms of systematic problems demanding urgent attention.

“From statistics, 80 per cent of infrastructure failures were from private developers, that is where the problem is, thus the need to bring them on board,’’ he said.

According to Uche, engineering administration is the backbone of any successful infrastructure project as it encompasses planning, research allocation, project management, policy implementation and adherence to regulatory standard.

He said that when executed properly, it ensured that engineering project met global standards of quality, durability, and safety.

“Every collapse is a failure of administration, a betrayer of trust, and an erosion of hope. We must rise to change this narrative. We must insist on professionalism over patronage.

“We must prioritise long-term safety over short-term profits. We must empower engineers not to just build, but to lead.

“Let us remember no nation rises above the integrity of its infrastructure and no infrastructure stands tall without the scaffolding of sound engineering administration,” he said.

Uche explained that underfunding COREN, saddled with the monitoring and regulations of engineering in Nigeria, was undermining that process and called for a reversal of that situation.

The guest speaker, Mustafa Shehu, who is also the President, World Federation of Engineering Organisations (WFEO), urged Africa not to be left out in global engineering best practices.

The National Chairman of NICE, Tokunbo Ajanaku, said the annual lecture was not just a tradition but a vital platform for reflection and to engage meaningfully on matters that concern engineering and the society.

Ajanaku said: “As a nation, we are daily confronted with the disturbing reality of building and infrastructure failures, which not only result in economic loss but tragically the loss of lives.

“It is no longer sufficient to point fingers at design flaws or construction practices alone.

“We must critically examine the frameworks of engineering administration like our regulatory systems, project supervision, enforcement of standards and the leadership within our engineering institutions and agencies.

“Effective administration is the backbone of sustainable engineering outcomes and this lecture will provide a necessary lens through which we can evaluate our collective responsibilities and propose lasting solutions,” Ajanaku said.

Mr Umar Jibrin, in whose honour the lecture was organised, commended NICE for sustaining the annual lecture.

Jibrin said:” I feel highly honoured and elated.  I am very impressed by the way the lecture has been going on. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Augusta Uchediunor/Uche Anunne

By Isaiah Eka

Dr Matthew Adepoju, Director General, National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), says opportunities abound for wealth creation in the space sector to aid youth employment.

Adepoju said this on Friday while speaking with newsmen on the sidelines of the 2025 National Space Research and Development Agency top management retreat in Uyo.

He said the agency had concluded plans to train 200,000 youths with skills acquisition to catch up with opportunities in the space sector.

The DG said to achieve this, NASRDA would build skills acquisition centres across the six geopolitical zones of the country, where the youths could be trained in different skills.

“We are introducing some skills acquisition for youth employment because we have observed that they need skills; wherever you have problems, that is potential money, that is potential jobs, that is opportunities.

“But when you don’t have the skills to tackle the problems and turn the situation to wealth creation, that’s why we brought up skills acquisition hub which is taking off soon.

“The first one out of the six of the regional centres will be completed and be commissioned this year, where we can train up to 200,000 youths every year in every region.

“So, we believe all these things are going to contribute to the economy of the country and solve the problems of youth unemployment,” Adepoju said.

Adepoju added that NASRDA would also, within the next one year, launch two new satellites into space to replace the old one launched since 2011.

He said that the country had secured a seat in the blue region to ensure the launch becomes a reality as process of selection was ongoing of the Nigerian that would benefit from the initiative.

According to him, the initiative would be in collaboration with Space Exploration and Research Agency (SERA) in USA.

“In the next six months to one year, definitely NASRDA will launch at least two out of the four satellites into the orbit.

“Then the programme of the first Nigeria, first African to be in space would have been a reality too, because we have already secured the seat in the blue origin.

“So, we are in the process of selection of the Nigerian that will be the beneficiary of this initiative. It is a collaboration between NASRDA and SERA in USA,” he said.

The director general further said that President Bola Tinubu had approved the take off grant for the space regulations and spectrum management in Nigeria.

He said that lack of space regulations had been the reason many of the telecommunications companies operating in the country were rendering poor services to Nigerians.

“Many of the services rendered to us in Nigeria are substandard.

“Let’s look at direct to home television, even telephone, you are in the middle of telephone everything is dropping, is because of the transponder they are using.

“I was really disappointed in the room while I was listening to the President’s acceptance speech and because it was cloudy and about to rain, everything went off the screen.

“It is because nobody is regulating the space sector which is the function of NASRDA both the upstream, midstream and downstream,” he said.

Adepoju noted the space sector was now the biggest economy in the whole world, adding that private sector should get involved to grow the economy, create jobs and tackle insecurity.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the retreat’s theme is: “NASRDA Beyond the Horizon: Building a Resilient Workforce for Space Economy and National Security.” (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo

By Ihechinyere Chigemeri-Uwom

Gov. Alex Otti of Abia says the State Government’s new transport system will commence operation before the end of July.

Otti said this during the “Promise Kept Carnival”, organised jointly by the Aba Business Community and Landlords Association to celebrate the completion of the reconstruction of the Port Harcourt Road, Aba.

He said that the transport system would begin with the introduction of 20 electric buses and the completion of modern bus terminals across key locations.

He also said that the construction of new transport terminals was progressing rapidly.

The governor described the project as part of his administration’s commitment to transforming Abia’s public infrastructure and embracing clean energy solutions.

“In the next two months, not more than two months, our transport system will start working.

“If you go around, you will see the bus terminals we are building,” Otti said.

He further said that the initial phase of the transport upgrade would include the deployment of 20 fully electric buses, which the state had paid for.

He described the vehicles as world-class, drawing comparisons with international standards.

The Speaker of Abia House of Assembly, Mr Emmanuel Emeruwa, commended the State Government for evolving programmes and policies that facilitate development in the state.

Emeruwa said that the House of Assembly under his watch would continue to give the government adequate support to enable it to achieve its rebuilding agenda.

The Chairman of the occasion, Chief John Udegbala, said that the Aba business community and landlord association decided to put together an event to show total appreciation to the governor.

“We are saying thank you because the projects executed by this administration are numerous but Port Harcourt Road stands out,” Udegbala said.

He said that the giant strides taking place in Aba had helped to encourage investors and business owners that left Aba to return.

Udegbala said that the governor had shown true leadership by putting the needs and welfare of the citizens first.

The Convener of the carnival, Mr Onyeka Udeaja, said that the event was organised because of the desire of Aba residents to thank God for the transformation in the city.

“This carnival of praise is totally dedicated to God for answering our prayers for good governance.

“What we are witnessing in Abia is the evidence of God’s hand upon you and even those that did not believe can now see.

“Time will not permit me to enumerate your numerous achievements but one sterling project of your administration that stands out is the completion of Port Harcourt Road,” Udeaja said.

He urged the governor to remain steadfast in delivering the mandate given to him by the people of Abia.

In separate goodwill messages, the former Transition Committee Chairman of Ohafia Local Government Area, Chief David Onuoha, and a businessman, Chief Leo Okoye, described the road as one of the legacies of Otti’s administration.

They said the road would open a vista of opportunities that would impact on the socioeconomic development of Aba and the state at large.

The Chairman of Abia State Market Traders Association, Mr Alphonsus Odeigbo, commended the present administration for its rebuilding agenda.

Odeigbo said that the agenda of the government for every sector of the economy had greatly improved the state’s ease of doing business.

Also, a student of Umuagbai Secondary School, Victory Samuel, thanked the government for reconstructing the road.

Samuel said that his school suffered great setback because of the deplorable condition of the road for about two decades.

He said that the completion of the road had ended the long suffering by students and staff members of the school plying the completely dilapidated and abandoned road. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Nkiru Ifeajuna/Sam Oditah