By Moses Nosike

The Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers (NICE) has advocated collaboration by policymakers, regulators, academia, professionals, practitioners and stakeholders to proffer solutions on the challenges affecting the growth and development of the civil engineering sector and economy.

The body made the call at the maiden edition of Construction Expo Africa and NICE’s first ever international exhibition and fair that brought all the stakeholders in the built environment together to discuss the future of the industry.

The Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers is a professional body saddled with the responsibility of providing quality construction works as stipulated by law for the safety of the Nigerian citizens, environment and economic growth.

Speaking to journalists at the Expo in Lagos, the National Chairman, Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers (NICE), Engr. Virgilus Chukwudi Ezugu said, “The essence of the Expo is to bring all the practitioners of civil engineering into one roof – the academia, the professionals or people teaching in Universities. We have the manufacturing engineers manufacturing civil engineering products, regulators, COREN, Standard Organisation of Nigeria, the research institutes, like Nigerian Building and Roads Research Institutes, the Lagos State Public Works Corporation, the policymakers, building professionals, the civil engineers, consultants and other material service companies so that we can synergise and proffer solutions to the challenges of civil engineering in Nigeria.

According to Engr. Ezugu, “this exhibition and fair was conceived out of the need to bridge the gap between academia, professionals and industry in order to consciously work in synergy to solve the mirage of civil infrastructure deficits and failures of available ones.

“From humongous housing deficit of about 28 million units in 2023 up from 20 million units in 2018 to dilapidated highways, very poor rail transport system, chaotic air transport system to inadequate potable water etc. our dear country is faced with gross inadequacy in civil infrastructure. This translates to poor economic activities in spite of the huge market and potentials and pathetic social and physiological wellbeing of the ordinary Nigerian. The good news however is that we have enough resources, material and human capital waiting to be tapped into. All we need is engaging the right persons especially professionals and technocrats in their specific fields and most importantly political will to execute projects and programmes that will change the situation for the better in the shortest possible time”.

“In line with the vision of the Institution and as a responsive professional body we have embarked on this project Construction Expo Africa to provide a platform for policy makers, professionals, academia, industry practitioners viz manufacturers and their representatives, contractors, consultants and all stakeholders in the built environment as well as interested members of the public to discuss, exchange ideas, learn and network. This will create the enabling environment to fill the huge gap urgently needed to grow our economy and improve the social economic wellbeing of Nigerians. This Expo is planned to be an annual event. I want to commend the present federal government for their desire to greatly improve the quality of infrastructure in the country”.

L-R: Member, Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers, Engr Okodugha Dauda Aluyah; General Manager, Lagos State Public Works and Corporation, Engr Tokunbo Ajanaku;  National Chairman (NICE) Engr. Virgilus  Chukwudi Ezugu; Chairman Organizing Committee, Engr. Dr Robbie Owivry; Past Lagos Chapter Chairman, (NICE), Engr  Emeka Ibeh, organised by the Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers  (NICE), Construction Expo Africa ,Construction & Engineering Digest Organized held  in Lagos.