Gladness Gideon
The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) has identified faulty structural designs and the use of substandard materials as leading causes of construction failures in Nigeria’s building and infrastructure sector.
This position was made known on Tuesday by NSE President, Mrs. Margaret Oguntala, during a public lecture and induction ceremony in Damaturu to mark the 2025 Engineering Week. Oguntala, represented by the NSE Vice President, Usman Tijjani, called for strict adherence to professional standards to prevent delays, cost overruns, and structural collapses.
“Stakeholders must adhere to standard and professional practices to avoid delays, budget overrun, and collapse of building structures,” she said, noting the long-term safety and economic consequences of engineering failures.
Speaking on the theme, “Construction of Flyovers and Other Related Engineering Infrastructures,” Oguntala described it as timely, especially in light of the ongoing construction of Damaturu’s first flyover.
While commending the Yobe State Government’s commitment to infrastructure development, she stressed that such large-scale projects demand comprehensive design processes, proper soil testing, and strict quality control to guarantee safety and longevity.
“Flyovers are capital-intensive and require adequate supervision and budgetary provisions to ensure their durability and safety,” she said, warning against the risk of uncompleted infrastructure becoming liabilities.
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Oguntala urged engineers, contractors, and government agencies to uphold the ethics and technical standards of the profession, particularly in areas such as soil bearing capacity, concrete strength, and environmental impact.
Earlier in the event, the NSE Damaturu Branch Chairman, Mr. Aliyu Sabo, said the 2025 Engineering Week aims to promote excellence in practice, raise awareness about quality execution of projects, and reinforce ethical conduct within the profession.
Activities lined up for the week include visits to engineering organisations, project sites, orphanages, and hospitals. The celebration will conclude with a dinner and awards night.
Sabo also paid tribute to the late Mr. Jibrin Umar Kortoni, former Director-General of the Ministry of Lands and Survey and a past chairman of the branch, for his instrumental role in developing the NSE Damaturu Secretariat.
Seventeen new members were formally inducted into the Damaturu Branch during the event.