News

Incessant building collapse: civil society coalition calls on Minister to cancel COREN’s illegal election

Published

3 years ago

May 13, 2023

By Our Correspondent

A coalition of 5 civil society groups have called on the minister of works, Babatunde Fashola (SAN) to look into the illegal leadership of COREN as installed through ways that did not conform with laid down professional procedures

In a press statement release by the group in Abuja, signed by its coordinator comrade Mohammed Adamu, it stated that with rising cases of building collapses, poor engineering works for road construction and project execution, it cannot condone a leadership of COREN elected without complying with the law, Adamu made this call in Abuja intimating the minister of works and housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN to intervene and prevent non-qualified leadership of council for the regulation of engineering in Nigeria*

He said, majority of Nigerians, have been gravely concerned about the rising spate of building collapses in many states of Nigeria with attendant loss of many lives which is generally blamed on poor engineering, quackery and non-compliance with building regulations.

Comrade Mohammed Adamu said, in view of this worrisome situation, we think the Nigerian Engineering profession could begin to get things rights and address the spate of engineering misconducts and malpractices by having a leadership elected in accordance with the law.

We are aware that a public interest law firm, Ojichukwu & Livingfaith Partners, through it’s Managing Partner, Mr. Michael O. Okorie, Esq has petitioned the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN to intervene and cancel the illegal election of Engr. Professor. Saqiq Z. Abubakar and Engr. Olu Ogunduyile as President and Vice-President of Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria as both are not duly appointed members of the Council as required by the relevant law, but they still smuggled into the Council by the immediate past President and his cohorts without Presidential or Ministerial approval as required by law.

The group said, in the interest of sustenance of ethical standards, professionalism and rule of law in the engineering profession as well as public interest, lend support in calling on the Minister to urgently address the petition and intervene to ensure that the leadership of COREN is elected and constituted in accordance with the law. The request for the minister’s intervention will show a commitment to address the rising cases of engineering malpractices that contribute to building collapses and other project failures.

We commend the Minister’s disposition to the upholding of ethical standards, professionalism and rule of law as the supervising Minister of the Council for Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria. And we believe the Minister will not standby and allow the enthronement of illegality in the leadership of the Council in particular regards to the currently elected President and Vice President who are not qualified to stand election as they are not duly appointed members of the Council.

We call on the Minister to immediately investigate these allegations and take necessary action, Adamu said.

Share on Facebook

News

Musawa Seeks Broader Significance for June 12

Published

1 day ago

October 3, 2026

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, Esq., says June 12 must be remembered as a sacrifice that gave Nigerians democracy, beyond its status as a public holiday.

In a statement signed on Saturday by the Senior Assistant Media & Publicity to the Honourable Minister,Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy Dr Nneka Ikem Anibeze Ph.D in Abuja.

Musawa stated this at the national premiere of “MKO”, a film on Chief Moshood Abiola, held at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, Lagos, to mark Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.

She said 33 years after June 12, 1993, many young Nigerians know it only as a holiday, but the film turns it back into memory.

“For too many young Nigerians, June 12 is simply a public holiday. This film tells them that our democracy did not arrive by chance. It was fought for. It was defended. It was paid for. This documentary is in honour of the heroes of June 12, the men and women who gave their lives for the mandate of June 12, 1993 and for the democracy Nigeria enjoys today,” the Minister said.

Musawa hailed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Chief Host, for his participation in the June 12 struggle and paying the price in exile, adding that Nigeria’s creative industry will keep telling the story of its democracy with courage.

“Through film and the creative economy, Nigeria will preserve its history. A nation that forgets its past loses its way to the future. Nigeria has a story and our story deserves to be told,” she said.

Earlier, the director of the investigative documentary, Ose Oyamendan, said the film was in honour and memory of heroes who fought for Nigeria’s democracy.

“There was Hope ’93 and now there is Renewed Hope. There was a man who sacrificed his life so we may have democracy and there is a man who almost lost his life fighting for democracy who is now helping build a lasting democracy.

“There was a great man called Bashorun MKO Abiola and there is now another great man called Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Democrats. Nationalists. Nation builders. Leaders of men and women. We must never forget our story. We must always honour and remember our heroes,” Oyamendan said.

Top government officials including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the wife of the President Senator Oluremi Tinubu; Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Chief of Staff to the President Rt. Femi Gbajabiamila, state Governors, members of the National Assembly, Ministers and other distinguished dignitaries attended the premiere.

Share on Facebook