The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) has accused several Federal Government ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) of excluding indigenous engineers from major infrastructure projects valued at trillions of naira, despite existing policies mandating local participation.
The allegation was made by the newly inaugurated President of the NSE, Engr. Ali Alimasuya Rabiu, during his investiture ceremony in Abuja. Rabiu said the practice undermines the Federal Government’s Nigeria First Policy and weakens the country’s engineering capacity.
While expressing strong support for the Nigeria First Policy, Rabiu described it as a critical opportunity to reposition Nigeria as Africa’s infrastructure and industrial hub. However, he warned that poor compliance by MDAs threatens the policy’s objectives.
According to him, despite legal frameworks such as the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) Act and Executive Order 5, many large-scale government projects continue to be executed without the involvement of Nigerian engineers.
“It may shock Mr President to know that infrastructure-related MDAs, including the Ministries of Works, Power, Water Resources, and the Federal Capital Territory Administration, routinely violate these laws,” Rabiu said.
He noted that weak enforcement has contributed to inflated project costs, substandard delivery, and missed opportunities for local capacity development. Rabiu urged President Bola Tinubu to direct compulsory engagement of Nigerian engineering consultants in the design, supervision, and certification of all major projects nationwide.
The NSE President also commended the immediate past president of the society, Engr. Margaret Oguntala, for restoring professionalism and visibility to the organisation.
Reflecting on his earlier tenure as President of COREN, Rabiu said his return to leadership was driven by concerns that the NSE had drifted from its founding ideals. He pledged to rebuild the society into a standards-driven institution capable of shaping public policy, driving innovation, and delivering measurable value to Nigeria’s development agenda.
