From Chidi Precious, Umuahia

In a bid to stem the tide of building collapses and align infrastructure development with global best practices, the Abia State Government has reiterated its commitment to enforcing engineering standards and engaging only qualified professionals in the built environment.

During an official visit by the Abia State Technical Committee of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), the State Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Hon. Chaka Chukwumerije, represented by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Town Planner Ukeje Ukpabi, stated that all ongoing projects in the state are being supervised by certified structural engineers.“We are committed to applying international standards in infrastructure development,” the Commissioner said. “All building projects are overseen by qualified experts to minimize, if not eliminate, incidents of structural failure.”This assurance came as the COREN delegation, led by Victor Ejikeme Ihediwa, Chairman of the Abia State Technical Committee, paid a courtesy visit to the ministry to highlight COREN’s regulatory functions and to solicit stronger collaboration in implementing engineering standards across the state.Abia State, like several others in Nigeria, has witnessed tragic building collapses in recent years. In 2024, a three-storey building in Ukwa West Local Government Area collapsed, prompting the state to inaugurate a Committee of Inquiry and charge it with developing a robust building control framework.COREN, established under Decree 55 of 1970 and now backed by the Engineers (Registration, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2018, is empowered to regulate engineering education, training, and practice. At the state level, this mandate is executed by the State Technical Committee (STC) and State Expatriate Monitoring Committee (SEMC).With political will from the Otti-led administration and technical backing from COREN, Abia may soon set a benchmark for safe, sustainable engineering practices in Nigeria.Ihediwa stated that the Abia STC—formally inaugurated by COREN President, Engr. Prof. Sadiq Z. Abubakar, on February 27, 2025 is tasked with: Monitoring engineering practice across sectors, Enforcing codes and standards, Sensitizing practitioners and the public and Prosecuting violations of the engineering law.The committee, according to him, draws its members from key institutions including the Ministries of Works, Development Control Agency, the Nigerian Police Force, and Nigerian Immigration Service, as well as professional engineering bodies and academia.Ihediwa urged the state government to ensure that only COREN-licensed professionals handle engineering projects, especially in the built environment. He also emphasized the need for continued capacity building, urging regular training for engineers to keep up with evolving technological standards.The visit, which climaxed with mutual assurances of cooperation between COREN and the Ministry of Lands and Housing, also saw both parties agree to strengthen enforcement mechanisms, improve public awareness, and engage skilled engineering personnel in line with COREN’s operational guidelines.Other members of ASTC present include Aneto Ephraim (CSP), Onyeike Onyeike, Dike Okorie and Ministry management staff, Kelechi Obasi and others.

From Nicholas Dekera, Kaduna

Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani has improved the lives of the citizens of both rural and urban areas, in his two years of impactful and transformative leadership in Kaduna State.A press statement by the Chief Press Secretary, Malam Ibraheem Musa on Sunday, stated that Kaduna State Government will be showcasing the achievements of the Governor as part of the May 29 anniversary celebrations.

The statement disclosed that the anniversary celebrations commenced last Friday, where Muslim faithful prayed for peace in Kaduna State, Allah’s guidance and support to the Governor, at the Kano road mosque in Kaduna metropolis. The Chief Press Secretary further said that there was church service at the United English Baptist Church, located at Borno Road Kaduna, where prayers were offered for the sustained peace and development under the Governor Uba Sani administration.The statement highlighted that ‘’ the Governor has constructed roads that connect farms to markets in his rural transformation drive. In addition, he is completing projects inherited from previous Governments.’’ ‘’Governor Uba Sani has also taken Human Capital Development to a new level, by building 62 new secondary schools and constructing more than 600 classrooms and renovating quite a number. ‘’Likewise, Governor Uba Sani has built three Vocational and Technology Skills Acquisition Cities in Soba, Rigachikun and Samarun Kataf towns, which are located in Soba, Igabi and Zangon Kataf Local Government Areas respectively,’’ the statement added.According to Malam Ibraheem, the Governor has recorded giant strides in the health sector as ‘’He has upgraded Primary Healthcare Centres to level 2 status, equipped with personnel and medical consumables. Also, he is remodelling 13 General Hospitals across Kaduna State, in an effort to make healthcare more accessible to the citizens.’’‘’Above all, Governor Uba Sani has become the epitome of peace and inclusivity, by bridging the ethno-religious divides in Kaduna State with his visionary leadership,’’ he pointed out.The statement disclosed that several township roads will be commissioned, the remodelled, upgraded and equipped Kachia General Hospital will also be commissioned and there will be a health walk, as part of the anniversary celebrations.The press statement called on citizens of Kaduna State to come out enmasse to celebrate the ‘’ Governor Uba Sani’s people-centred administration, which has resulted in two years of Transformational and Impactful leadership.’’

From Attah Ede, Makurdi

The Unity Caretaker Committee Chairman for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State, Chief Benjamin Omale, has commended the national leadership of the ruling APC for the successful conduct of the National Summit which ended a few days ago in Abuja.Omale, who also attended the Summit alongside other state party chairmen, said the deliberations at the event reaffirmed the commitment of President Bola Tinubu’s administration to repositioning Nigeria on the path of progress and prosperity.

He hailed the unanimous endorsement of President Tinubu as the party’s sole candidate for the 2027 general elections, describing the move as a masterstroke that has effectively silenced the opposition and strengthened party unity.Speaking to Newsmen in Makurdi on Sunday, upon his return from the summit, Chief Omale equally applauded Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, for his inclusive leadership and efforts in ensuring that the state is well represented in national political dynamics.He expressed support for the proposal at the Summit which advocated for automatic tickets for all first-term APC governors come 2027 elections, describing it as a pragmatic approach to preventing internal party crises.”I want to thank the National Working Committee of the party led by Alhaji Umar Ganduje as well as the organizers of the National Summit for putting such an epoch-making event together.”I therefore urge the National Working Committee to give the proposal serious consideration to sustain party cohesion and electoral success”, he said.Omale called on the people of Benue State in particular and Nigerians at large to maintain their trust in the APC, assuring that greater developments are on the horizon under the leadership of President Tinubu and Governor Alia.