By Daniel Tyokua
The Federal Government, Council for Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) and Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) have agreed to work for a better road sector development across the country.
Minister of Works, David Umahi and leaders of the bodies made the commitment in Abuja on Thursday.
Umahi who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr Yakubu Kofamata, said more successes in road sector will be achieved through synergy with the regulatory and professional organisations.
In a statement issued by the Director Information in the ministry, Olusola Abiola, explained that the Ministry’s collaboration in the area of training and re-training of Engineers is very important as “the collaboration will enable home grown Nigerian Engineers to work for the government and for the success of Nigeria’s infrastructure development as embedded in the Renewed Hope Agenda”
The statement read,“In every consultancy services that we need concerning the construction and maintenance of road network, we will always request for the input, contribution and the expertise of your organisations ”.
On the removal of the Federal Government funding from regulatory agencies like COREN, Umahi told the delegation that the Ministry was working on the matter, explaining that it was indeed a government decision which was not directed at any particular agency.
He promised to ensure that the existing partnership with the two bodies is maintained.
“I want to assure you that this Ministry will work for our common good. In fact, I want to stress that our door is open anytime for consultations.
In her remarks, the leader of the delegation and President of National Society of Engineers (NSE), Engr. Margaret Oguntala, commended President Bola Tinubu for the appointment of Umahi, noting that the effect is already being seen in the road sector.
She lauded the Minister’s immediate impact on the sector through the use of professionals as Consultants which she described as long overdue.
Engr. Oguntala also called on the management of the Ministry to avail itself of the recently developed engineering database for professional services, stating it would assist greatly in strengthening their partnership.
Those on the delegation was Prof. Sadiq Abubakar, President of COREN; Engr. (Prof) Adisa Bello, Registrar (COREN); Others are Engr. Joshua Egube, Engr. Valene Agberagba, Engr. Saidu Hassan, Engr. (Dr.) Halimed Adeniran, Barr. Tom Ebgele, Lawan Abdo Mariri, and Andrew Francis Onyibo.
