Senator Tasks NSE On Collapsed Buildings

Nigerian engineers have been warned against the employment of quacks in building and road construction as a veritable avenue to curb the ugly incidence of collapsed buildings and failed infrastructure projects across the country.

The Senator representing Rivers East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator George .T. Sekibo, said  this during the 7th Annual Lecture/Awards 2012 of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Port Harcourt branch. He said that the incessant Collapse of building in the country has called to question the integrity of some of our engineers.

He said that Nigerian engineers need to restore the confidence of the people on them by engaging professionals for construction activities.

In his welcome address, the chairman of the Port Harcourt branch of the society, Engr. Denis Abu Dania said that, the utmost desire of the branch was to see its members breaking new grounds in the profession.

Engr. Dania also said that the Nigerian Society of Engineers, in collaboration with the Council for the Regulation of Engineers in Nigeria (COREN) would not hesitate to sanction any engineer or corporate organization found wanting in their professional conduct.

The chairman also warned against politicizing the profession stressing that, “there are established conventional fundamental principles in engineering practice which must not be compromised on the altar of politics or selfish gain.”

In his lecture titled: “Environment: Is It Leadership,” Engr Mark Daso Derefaka, stressed the need for an engagement programme to change the poor perception of Nigerians towards environmental cleanliness.

Engr. Derefaka said that there should be regular workshops to bring home the desirability of a clean environment to the people, adding that to achieve this, the government needs to engage non-governmental organizations with similar objectives on board.

He also urged the NSE to propose a bill to the Rivers State House of Assembly that would seek to promote environmental sustainability in the state.

The event also featured the presentation of awards to some distinguished Engineers in the state, including the state deputy Governor, Engr. Tele IKuru.