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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.

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AWESSA 2026: Customs Assures Border Cooperation for Women Entrepreneurs

Published

18 hours ago

October 25, 2026

The Gleamer

By James Samuel, Abuja

The Nigeria Customs Service has said the nation’s borders must become gateways of opportunity for African women entrepreneurs, not obstacles that kill their businesses.

This was disclosed at the African Women’s Economic Sovereignty Summit and Awards (AWESSA) 2026 held at the Customs House, corporate headquarters of the Nigeria Customs Service in Abuja.

Representing the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, his representative, an Assistant Controller, said hosting the summit inside Customs premises was deliberate.

“That this summit holds within the Customs premises is no accident. It is a statement of intent,” he said.

“The border is where the promise of every African trader either comes alive or dies quietly. And the men and women of this Service have resolved that for every woman entrepreneur of this continent, that promise will never die.”

He said women account for an estimated 70% of informal cross-border trade in Africa and over half of agricultural labour, yet they face documentation, standards, finance and harassment challenges.

“Too often she meets the border as an obstacle rather than a gateway. Because she trades in small volumes, in cash, in informality without formal papers, capable business women are now trapped in informality, invisible to trade statistics,” he noted.

He added: “AfCFTA will not be delivered by treaties alone. It will be delivered at border posts, in conference halls, and in market stores.”

Also speaking, the Executive Director of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Mrs. Nonye Ayeni, represented by a Director, said women are central to Nigeria’s non-oil export sector.

According to her, NEPC’s focus is now on building export- ready competitive enterprises through programmes like the Women in Export Initiative, Export Clinic, and Zero to Export.

“Our focus is no longer on encouraging exports alone, it is on building competitive export-ready enterprises. We are supporting women to move beyond production into value addition, quality assurance, standard compliance, branding and market positioning,” she said.

She said AfCFTA offers a market of over one billion people, but women need knowledge, certifications and institutional support.

“Empowering women economically is one of the most effective tools for achieving poverty reduction, food security, job creation and inclusive growth,” she stated.

The Convener, Helen Okon, who is the Publisher of Business Review Africa & Africa Today Magazine, as well as representatives of NAFDAC DG and NEXIM Bank MD, reaffirmed commitment to supporting women-owned businesses access standards, certification and finance.

The summit, with the theme of positioning women as drivers of trade and sustainable development, is part of activities marking the International Year of the Women Farmer.

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