Yinka Kolawole
The Council for the Regulations of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) has introduced new measures to check the recurring incidents of building collapse in the country, via its Engineering Regulation Monitoring (ERM) programme.

President of the Council, Engr. Mustapha Bulama, who disclosed this recently in Abuja, said that the measures involves inspectors of the ERM unit constantly visiting all ongoing projects within their areas of jurisdictions, including Federal, State and Local Government projects. The inspectors are required to obtain an undertaking from engineers involved in supervising projects from the side of the consultants, ministry officials and the contractors.

“In addition, all engineers directly or indirectly involved in approving drawings, at the Development Control Office across the country must be accountable. ERM inspectors are to check quality of works, vis_a_vis, what is on site as compared to the specifications.

Any registered engineering personnel found to be involved in shoddy jobs would be brought before the COREN Registered Engineers Tribunal and sanctioned,” he warned.

He said that in the event of collapse of building, the ERM inspectorate covering that area would immediately move to the site and identify the project approving department, the contractor, consultant and the engineering personnel from the client involved. He added that the engineers involved, either directly or remotely, would be invited to appear before the COREN investigating panel.