COREN Announces Major Reforms to Enhance Engineering Regulation and Public Safety

• Approves activation of disciplinary tribunal 

•Reports cases of fraudulent certificates to anti-graft agencies

The Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) announced several strategic resolutions at its 189th Ordinary Council Meeting. The decisions aim to strengthen engineering regulation, enhance public safety, improve professional standards, and advance key institutional reforms nationwide.

One of the main actions approved is the creation of a 90‑Day Engineering Regulation Monitoring and Enforcement (ERM&E) Rapid Response Task Force. The task force will intensify efforts against quackery, strengthen project monitoring, and support initiatives to prevent building collapse and other engineering‑related failures.

A statement signed in Abuja by COREN Registrar Prof. Austine Uche noted that the council also approved a nationwide public‑awareness campaign. The campaign will educate Nigerians about the risks of hiring unregistered engineering practitioners and encourage compliance with engineering regulations and standards.

In a significant move to reinforce professional discipline and ethical conduct, the council authorized the activation of the Engineering Disciplinary Tribunal. The tribunal will provide a framework for addressing professional misconduct and enforcing accountability within the engineering profession.

To deepen regulation and improve service delivery, the council approved the registration of 3,328 engineering practitioners across various categories and 107 engineering firms. It also directed a review of existing registration guidelines to reflect emerging industry realities and global best practices.

“Council further reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the integrity of the engineering profession by directing the reporting of nine cases involving fraudulent academic certificates submitted for registration to the appropriate anti‑corruption authorities for investigation and possible prosecution,” the statement added.

“To strengthen engineering education and quality assurance, Council approved the gazetting of the Engineering and Technology Accreditation Bureau (ETAB) and reiterated COREN’s statutory role in the accreditation of engineering programmes in Nigeria,” the statement continued.

In line with ongoing efforts to improve safety within the construction industry, COREN announced that the council approved a national stakeholders’ engagement on the Draft Harmonised National Construction Safety Guidelines for the Nigerian Construction Industry. The engagement aims to bring together key stakeholders to develop a more robust framework for promoting safe construction practices nationwide.

Similarly, the council directed the completion and deployment of the upgraded COREN digital portal as part of its digital transformation initiatives, which seek to enhance operational efficiency and service delivery to practitioners and stakeholders.

Reaffirming its commitment to safeguarding lives and property, COREN emphasized the need for stronger collaboration with government institutions, industry stakeholders, and professional bodies to ensure that engineering works in Nigeria are undertaken only by qualified and duly registered practitioners.