By Isqil Najim
The Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) has announced a series of major regulatory actions following its 189th Ordinary Council Meeting, with a strong focus on professional discipline, public safety, and the integrity of engineering registration.
In one of its boldest moves in recent years, COREN approved the activation of its Engineering Disciplinary Tribunal. The tribunal will serve as a formal mechanism for investigating complaints of professional misconduct, addressing breaches of ethics, and imposing sanctions where violations are confirmed. According to the Council, the goal is to hold practitioners accountable and restore public confidence in engineering practice.
This was disclosed in a statement issued Wednesday by the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of COREN, Okorie Austine Uche.
Warning Against Hiring Unregistered Practitioners
COREN also approved a nationwide public enlightenment campaign cautioning Nigerians against engaging unregistered or unqualified individuals for engineering work.
The Council noted that many building collapses and infrastructure failures occur because project owners hire people who lack the requisite qualifications, registration, or competence to handle engineering projects.
The campaign will target the general public, developers, contractors, and government agencies, aiming to deepen awareness of the risks involved in using unregistered practitioners and to promote stronger compliance with engineering standards.
Fraudulent Certificates Uncovered
In addition, COREN disclosed that it had discovered nine cases of fraudulent academic certificates submitted by individuals seeking professional registration.
The Council has directed that these cases be referred to anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies for investigation and possible prosecution, reaffirming its zero-tolerance position on attempts to gain entry into the profession through dishonest means.
Other Key Decisions
The Council approved the establishment of a 90-Day Engineering Regulation Monitoring and Enforcement Rapid Response Task Force, created to intensify project monitoring, enforce standards, and identify individuals practicing engineering illegally across the country.
COREN also announced approval of the registration of 3,328 engineering practitioners across various categories, alongside 107 engineering firms, as part of its routine efforts to expand and formalize professional membership.
The Council further directed a review of existing registration guidelines to ensure they remain aligned with emerging technologies, evolving industry trends, and international best practices in engineering regulation.
In addition, COREN approved the gazetting of the Engineering and Technology Accreditation Bureau, reaffirming its statutory responsibility for accrediting engineering programmes offered by tertiary institutions across Nigeria.
A national stakeholders’ engagement was also approved on the Draft Harmonised National Construction Safety Guidelines, bringing together regulators, construction firms, professional bodies, and government agencies to strengthen the safety framework across the construction industry.
Finally, the Council directed the completion and deployment of an upgraded digital portal, an initiative expected to improve operational efficiency, streamline registration processes, and enhance service delivery to engineering practitioners and stakeholders nationwide.
These measures come amid growing concern over building collapses and infrastructure failures across Nigeria, which stakeholders have linked to poor supervision, substandard materials, regulatory non-compliance, and the activities of unqualified individuals in the engineering space.
With the tribunal now active and a public awareness campaign underway, COREN says it remains committed to strengthening engineering governance, upholding professional integrity, and safeguarding lives and property nationwide.