Engineers Slam FG Over Non-Patronage

The Owerri branch of the Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE), Imo State, has berated the Government over her regular use of foreign engineers against their indigenous counterparts, in the execution of most of her projects within the country.
The Chairman of NSE, Owerri branch, Engineer Emeka Ugoanyanwu, made the remarks while briefing newsmen in Owerri recently.
According to him, the non-placement of the indigenous engineering profession, practice and personnel in their rightful position, has attracted under-development to Nigeria, stressing that the foreign engineers could only be used in assisting capacity.
The chairman did not hide his feelings against the regular use of unqualified foreign engineer by the Federal Government, owing to colour of their skin, to the detriment of their local counterparts who often have training qualification.
He made reference to Imo State for example, where two buildings at Naze (Owerri North L.G.A.) and Nekede (Owerri West L.G.A.) collapsed recently as a result of use of quacks and unprofessional engineers in constructing them.
He called on building regulatory agencies like OCDA to liaise with the Imo State branch of NSE and ‘COREN’ in fighting against the use of such quacks in their subsequent projects so as to avert any calamity that may erupt from poor constructions.
He equally used the forum to unveil Orlu branch as the 65th NSE branch by the council, saying, its creation was as a result of the 417th Council meeting held in Abuja which would enhance the membership with a view to proffering engineering solution to some problems affecting engineers in the state.
Ugoanyanwu, also lamented the non-availability of power supply and high electricity tariffs in the State by the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) and cautioned that such practice could lead to under-development of the State, if nothing drastic was done to address the anomaly.
He advised his members to adhere to the ethics of their profession and participate in regular training/re-training, workshops and monthly seminars, adding that their professional licence renewal should always be taken seriously.
In a related development, the former Owerri branch Chairman of NSE, Engr Emma Okey Ossai, condemned the undertaking of construction of both roads and buildings in the State without adhering to the requisite engineering procedures including designing, structuring and supervision, stressing that it would be cheaper and more beneficial to use the services of structural engineers for projects in the state, than using quacks with its attendant implications.