The Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) has approved a nationwide audit of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to check compliance with the enhanced entry-point policy for engineers in the public service.

The council also plans to renew discussions with the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) on the implementation of the policy.

COREN reached the decisions during its 190th Ordinary Council Meeting in Abuja.

COREN Steps Up Regulatory Enforcement

COREN Registrar and Chief Executive Officer, Prof. Okorie Uche, announced the decisions on Thursday.

Uche said the council would strengthen compliance and enforcement across the engineering profession. The measures will focus on professional standards, technical skills, regulation and public safety.

He said COREN wants engineering professionals and firms to meet established regulatory requirements.

The council also approved the registration of 2,001 engineering practitioners.

The new registrants include 1,410 engineers, 227 engineering technologists and 15 engineering technicians. The list also contains 334 engineering craftsmen and 15 expatriate practitioners.

COREN also approved 33 engineering firms for registration across different areas of engineering practice.

Renewable Energy Certification Gets Attention

The council approved full accreditation for some firms under its Renewable Energy (RE) and Energy Efficiency (EE) Certification Scheme.

COREN runs the scheme in partnership with the Nigerian Energy Support Programme (NESP).

The initiative aims to improve professional capacity and promote standards in renewable energy and energy efficiency.

The council also reviewed certification examination results from seven training centres. A total of 478 candidates took the examinations, while 177 candidates passed.

COREN then directed Enerplaz Paygo Solutions in Port Harcourt to adopt the COREN/NESP-approved Solar Photovoltaic Installation Training Curriculum.

Stronger Response to Engineering Failures

The council also considered the problem of recurring engineering failures and building collapses.

COREN approved measures to strengthen its regulatory intervention and enforcement activities. The council said the measures would help it respond more effectively to breaches that could put lives and property at risk.

The new approach includes a competency development programme for Engineering Regulation Inspection Officers.

COREN also approved a wider regulatory strategy. The plan includes a nationwide public awareness campaign and an integrated digital compliance and verification platform.

Other measures include mandatory COREN compliance for engineering procurement and approvals. The council also plans to strengthen Engineering Compliance Inspectorate Units.

National Engineering Practice Database Planned

COREN plans to establish a National Engineering Practice Database.

The database will support the monitoring, verification and regulation of engineering activities across Nigeria.

The council also intends to work more closely with relevant government agencies. It will enforce stricter compliance with annual practising licence requirements.

The move could give regulators better information about engineering professionals and firms operating across the country.

COREN to Regulate Engineering Artisans

The council also approved the automation of registration for engineering artisans and Skills Training Centres through the COREN Portal.

It further approved measures to strengthen the recognition and regulation of engineering craftsmen.

COREN will collaborate with the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to develop National Occupational Standards for several technical occupations.

These occupations include bicycle mechanics, GSM phone repairs, satellite installation, tractor operation and maintenance, motor body building and transmission repairs.

The move is aimed at improving technical skills and creating clearer standards for different engineering-related occupations.

New Framework for Engineering Education

COREN also approved the implementation of the National Engineering Admission Quota and Carrying Capacity Enforcement Framework.

The framework will support quality assurance in engineering education. It will also help ensure that engineering programmes at Nigerian universities remain within approved capacity and standards.

The council further approved revised Terms of Reference for its Codes and Standards Committee.

The committee will focus on developing, reviewing, promoting and monitoring engineering codes and standards.

COREN Approves Engineering Fee Scale

The council approved the adoption of the Engineering Sliding Scale of Fees in Nigeria (ESSOFIN).

COREN also plans to hold regional stakeholder engagement workshops before the end of 2026.

The workshops will allow practitioners, government institutions and other industry stakeholders to discuss the new measures. They are also expected to support consultation, consensus-building and wider acceptance of the initiatives.

The nationwide MDA audit and other regulatory measures come as COREN seeks to strengthen oversight of engineering practice in Nigeria. Effective enforcement of professional standards remains important to the safety and quality of buildings, infrastructure and other engineering projects across the country.

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Engineering professionals in Nigeria have called for increased support for infrastructure development and stronger industrial training opportunities to bridge the gap between academic learning and practical industry experience.

The call was made at the “Ease of Doing Business” series organised in partnership with the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Ikeja Branch.

Industrial Training Opportunities Under Pressure

Speaking at the forum, former Chairman of the NSE Ikeja Branch, Mr Akintayo Akintola, stressed the need to expand industrial training opportunities for young engineers to improve competence and hands-on experience.

He noted that while the engineering profession in Nigeria has grown significantly in terms of manpower, opportunities for practical exposure have not kept pace.

“The engineering profession in Nigeria has grown in numbers, but opportunities have not kept pace,” he said.

Akintola, Managing Director of Charlie Debbie Consult, explained that industrial training, once a structured pathway for students to gain professional exposure, has become increasingly difficult due to limited placement opportunities.

Fewer Companies, Fewer Training Spaces

He expressed concern over the shrinking private sector space available for engineering internships and attachments.

“What we have today is fewer hands-on placements for the very professionals the system was built to serve,” he said.

“More companies are closing down rather than opening up, and the spaces are getting tighter every day.”

According to him, the decline in operational companies has reduced the number of available training slots for engineering students and young professionals.

Concerns Over National Data and Planning Systems

Akintola also raised concerns about Nigeria’s weak data infrastructure, arguing that the country lacks reliable systems for population tracking and development planning.

He said inadequate political will has hindered the deployment of engineering-driven solutions needed for effective national development.

“The government has consistently refused to empower engineers with the tools and mandates necessary to build the systems the country needs,” he said.

He further criticised inconsistent policy direction, noting that the absence of continuity in development planning has contributed to infrastructure gaps.

Lessons From Past Infrastructure Projects

Akintola referenced earlier development eras, particularly the 1970s, when long-term planning led to major infrastructure projects such as the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and the Third Mainland Bridge.

He said such projects were made possible by consistent policy direction and sustained commitment to national development goals.

Engineers Push for Economic Growth Role

Chairman of the NSE Ikeja Branch, Nimot Muili, said the forum was designed to highlight the contributions of Nigerian engineers to both local and international development.

She said the initiative also focused on engineering-led solutions, alternative dispute resolution mechanisms for businesses, and the role of engineering in strengthening economic growth.

Engineering Key to Business Environment Reform

Muili emphasised that engineering innovation, infrastructure policy, and technical expertise are critical to improving Nigeria’s business environment.

“As a branch, we are committed to showcasing engineers, investors, innovators and professionals who are making significant contributions to economic growth and national development,” she said.

Stakeholders at the forum agreed that strengthening industrial training systems and expanding infrastructure investment will be essential for improving Nigeria’s engineering capacity and supporting long-term national development.

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The Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) has called for joint efforts among stakeholders to secure Nigeria’s full membership of the Sydney and Dublin Accords.

COREN President, Professor Sadiq Zubair Abubakar, said the move would enhance international recognition of Nigerian engineering qualifications and open global opportunities for professionals.

He made the call in Abuja during a workshop organised by COREN and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to guide Nigeria’s application process for the accords.

Abubakar described the membership bid as a national priority that will strengthen the country’s engineering education system.

NBTE Executive Secretary, Professor Idris Bugaje, noted that while Nigeria is close to joining the Washington Accord for university-level engineers, focus has now shifted to achieving similar recognition for HND and OND holders.

The workshop featured technical sessions by Professor Megat Johari Megat Mohd Noor of Malaysia and presentations on advocacy strategies by Professor Christian Bolu, who urged collaboration to meet international standards.

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