Abia Moves to Curb Building Collapses with Stricter Engineering Oversight.
…As State Technical Committee of COREN visits
In a bid to stem the tide of building collapses and align infrastructure development with global best practices, the Abia State Government has reiterated its commitment to enforcing engineering standards and engaging only qualified professionals in the built environment.
Speaking during an official visit by the Abia State Technical Committee of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), the State Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Hon. Chaka Chukwumerije, represented by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Town Planner Ukeje Ukpabi, stated that all ongoing projects in the state are being supervised by certified structural engineers.
“We are committed to applying international standards in infrastructure development,” the Commissioner said. “All building projects are overseen by qualified experts to minimize, if not eliminate, incidents of structural failure.”
This assurance came as the COREN delegation, led by Engr. Victor Ejikeme Ihediwa, FNSE, Chairman of the Abia State Technical Committee, paid a courtesy visit to the ministry to highlight COREN’s regulatory functions and to solicit stronger collaboration in implementing engineering standards across the state.
Abia State, like several others in Nigeria, has witnessed tragic building collapses in recent years. In 2024, a three-storey building in Ukwa West Local Government Area collapsed, prompting the state to inaugurate a Committee of Inquiry and charge it with developing a robust building control framework.
COREN, established under Decree 55 of 1970 and now backed by the Engineers (Registration, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2018, is empowered to regulate engineering education, training, and practice. At the state level, this mandate is executed by the State Technical Committee (STC) and State Expatriate Monitoring Committee (SEMC).
With political will from the Otti-led administration and technical backing from COREN, Abia may soon set a benchmark for safe, sustainable engineering practices in Nigeria.
Engr. Ihediwa stated that the Abia STC—formally inaugurated by COREN President, Engr. Prof. Sadiq Z. Abubakar, on February 27, 2025 is tasked with: Monitoring engineering practice across sectors, Enforcing codes and standards, Sensitizing practitioners and the public and Prosecuting violations of the engineering law.
The committee according to him, draws its members from key institutions including the Ministries of Works, Development Control Agency, the Nigerian Police Force, and Nigerian Immigration Service, as well as professional engineering bodies and academia.
Engr. Ihediwa urged the state government to ensure that only COREN-licensed professionals handle engineering projects, especially in the built environment. He also emphasized the need for continued capacity building, urging regular training for engineers to keep up with evolving technological standards.
The visit which climaxed with mutual assurances of cooperation between COREN and the Ministry of Lands and Housing, also saw both parties agreed to strengthen enforcement mechanisms, improve public awareness, and engage skilled engineering personnel in line with COREN’s operational guidelines.
Other members of ASTC present include Engr Aneto Ephraim (CSP), Engr Onyeike Onyeike, Engr Dike Okorie and Ministry management staff, Arch Kelechi Obasi and others.
