ENGINEERS CHART NEW COURSE FOR NIGERIA’S FUTURE AS MINISTRY DRIVES STRATEGIC DIALOGUE ON INNOVATION, REGULATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT The 45th Conference of Directors of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Departments from the Federal Ministry of Works and States’ Ministries of Works/Infrastructure took place in Abuja from May 5 to 7, 2025.  This event brought together federal and state engineering directors, retired professionals, and key stakeholders. Under the theme “Application of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Tools for Economic Growth and Sustainability,” the conference provided a vital platform for discussions on engineering innovation, regulatory compliance, energy transition, as well as workforce development. The Permanent Secretary, Engr. Olufunsho O. Adebiyi, FNSE, represented by the Director of Highways, Planning and Development, Engr. David Yiltong declared the conference opened. He commended the Directors for their unwavering commitment to national infrastructure development and expressed his deep appreciation for the conference's role in enhancing professional collaboration and generating policy-driven solutions.  He emphasised the Ministry's commitment to supporting the implementation of resolutions reached, particularly those in alignment with national development goals. The Conference Chairman and Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services (EMS), Engr. Bukar D. Mohammed praised the collaborative spirit among the delegates and urged them to align their contributions with the nation's aspiration for a resilient, self-reliant, and technologically advanced engineering sector.  He highlighted the importance of updating technical knowledge, building regulatory capacity, and integrating sustainable tools and practices into engineering operations across the country. Goodwill messages framed the discussions. A retired Director of Engineering Management Services, Federal Ministry of Works, Engr. Felix Ebuzeome applauded the leadership of the organising committee and encouraged future conferences to be held outside the Federal Capital Territory to promote national inclusivity.  Engr. Joshua Olurinola, another retired Director of EMS, challenged the delegates to become the change Nigeria requires. He reminded them of their privileges and responsibilities as engineers and, specifically urged the Department to collaborate with the Highways Department in deploying road signages across all federal roads. Among the major technical highlights was a presentation by Bozimo E. Joseph, Federal Delegate and Higher Technical Officer (HTO), titled “Engineering Innovation, Workforce Development, and Professional Inclusion for Nigeria’s Economic Growth and Sustainability.”  The delegate advocated for the formal recognition of emerging engineering disciplines, such as Environmental Engineering and AI-integrated systems, which are currently unaccredited by COREN and excluded from the Civil Service career structure. He proposed the establishment of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversion training workshops in the Ministry’s Technical Schools to support the national goal of converting over one million vehicles by 2027. His presentation also called for reforms in curricula, modular training pathways, and digital certifications aligned with the industry’s needs and aspirations. Engr. Itodo Emmanuel's presentation reinforced the importance of regulatory compliance and safety standards in national development. Referencing frameworks like the National Building Code, COREN’s Engineering Regulations Monitoring (ERM), and various safety codes, he identified enforcement gaps, substandard materials, and low regulatory awareness as significant challenges.  He recommended mandatory registration, periodic inspections, sanctions for violators, and the promotion of local fabrication through training schools, including initiatives such as streetlight pole manufacturing. He called for stronger collaboration between institutions and continuous professional development to maintain quality and integrity in the sector. Engr. (Dr.) R.O. Raheem emphasised the necessity for robust training institutions, enhanced instructor capacity, expanded engineering curricula, and policy reforms prioritising engineering graduates in public sector recruitment. He advocated for partnerships with the private sector to improve technical capabilities to bridge human capital gaps. Energy security was a key focus in Engr. John Chukwuemeka's presentation on solar photovoltaic integration and grid optimisation. Using the Ministry’s 1.5MW solar micro-grid project as a case study, he illustrated how decentralised solar solutions can prevent national grid collapses, reduce energy costs, and ensure uninterrupted power supply to critical infrastructure.  He urged the Council to support broader adoption of solar microgrids, engineer retraining, and curriculum revisions to align with renewable energy goals. Another thought-provoking paper presented was the “Economic Impacts of Engineering Innovations in Nigeria” by Engr. Oyinloye Adekunle examined how indigenous technological advancements could reduce dependency on imports and stimulate local industries.  Engr. Olaore O. Isaac presented a timely paper on the “Development of Electric Vehicles and Hybrid Transport Systems in Nigeria: Challenges, Opportunities, and Roadmap for Sustainable Mobility,” offering practical policy recommendations for transitioning Nigeria’s transportation sector into the clean energy future. In another critical submission, Engr. Benneth O. Obiajulu spoke on “Intelligent Traffic Management and Control Systems,” emphasising the need for real-time traffic data integration, smart infrastructure deployment, and inter-agency collaboration to reduce congestion and improve road safety. These papers, amongst others, underscored the depth and diversity of engineering insights shared at the conference. The conference concluded with a unified call to action. Delegates recommended to the Council for the formal recognition of emerging engineering disciplines, adoption of standardised CNG conversion training across the Ministry’s  Technical Schools, and the establishment of pilot training centers for national scale-up.  The directors also urged strengthened regulatory enforcement, expanded COREN accreditation, and institutional capacity building as essential levers for progress.   ...

WORKS MINISTER, SEN. UMAHI PARTNERS FORUM OF STATE APC CHAIRMEN ON ROAD PROJECT MONITORING AND FEEDBACK MECHANISM DESCRIBES AS UNPRECEDENTED RENEWED HOPE INTERVENTION ON ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT NATIONWIDE The Honourable Minister of Works, Sen. Engr. Nweze David Umahi CON has assured the Forum of State Chairmen of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nigeria of a strategic collaboration in project monitoring and in fostering feedback mechanism in project delivery management. He made this assurance during a courtesy  call by the forum held at the conference  hall of the Federal Ministry of Works, Mabushi, Abuja, on 6th May 2025. Speaking during  the event,  the Honourable Minister gave a thrilling account of the achievements of the Renewed Hope administration of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR in the works sector across  the six Geo-Political Zones, which he said had helped  to accelerate economic recovery in line with the 8-point agenda of the Renewed Hope administration. He praised the  progress made by Mr. President in taking Nigeria out of recession. "There are a lot of improvements in our economy.  I've always said that Mr. President inherited an economy that was in oxygen; that was in shock, and then he came, and he put oxygen. Today, we have removed the oxygen. And the economy is promising.  If you come and look at the fuel subsidy removal, you just ask yourself, if that was not done, where would this country have been? People darken counsel without knowledge. And when you criticize, can you give us an alternative? When people criticize  fuel subsidy removal and we came at the time that the ugly effect of the Naira redesign brought a lot of hardship for the people. But with the floating of the Naira, Mr. President has been able to stabilize the economy. When we came on board, we saw the way the Naira and the dollar were.  But today, we have a stable Naira.  He maintained that the policy direction of Mr. President was aimed at stabilizing and strengthening the economy  and making  Nigeria  to be self-sufficient and self-reliant in the world  of economic uncertainties. "Just yesterday, Mr. President unveiled  a policy  on local content, and his address touched on this  local content because jobs that our people are supposed to be doing, we can't give it to outsiders. The President has directed that local materials that could be locally sourced can not be imported. The food prices are coming down. I was very shocked for the first time in this celebration of the Muslim festival. Instead of food prices going up, the food prices came down. And it's something that we have to appreciate Mr. President. Commending the President on the huge intervention he has made on the road infrastructure, he said, "He is a man that understands that the road sector, the bridge sector, the infrastructural sector is the catalyst that grows the GDP of the nation of which every other sector will grow from." He particularly thanked  the Forum of State APC Chairmen, the National Chairman and the National Working Committee  of APC, as well as  the Governors in Nigeria for their support to the progressive economic reforms of the Renewed Hope administration and their confidence in it efficacy, noting  that  road project delivery policy under Mr. President guarantees active citizenship participation and consensus building. He urged members of the forum to feel free to task contractors and project managers on quality and accountability.  Earlier in his mission statement on behalf  of the forum of State APC Chairmen, the spokesman in the event and Chairman of APC Cross River State, Alphonsus Ogar Eba Esq, JP  thanked  the President of Nigeria for his illuminating stewardship in the works sector which he said would  speak for him at the time of his re-election in 2027.  He praised  the profound  passion, the intellectual  capacity  and the professional  sagacity and dexterity of the Honourable Minister of Works which has added  great  impetus  to the transformation witnessed in the road sector of the economy. "Your Excellency, we are Chairmen and this visit is a solidarity visit to commend you for being the light that has brought proper illumination to the pitiful darkness that was found in the road infrastructure  And so for us, we can only thank  Mr. President, who discovered you even when you were in a comfort zone of being a Senator.  He continued, "This is a visit of thanksgiving to the Honourable Minister and his very supportive Honourable Minister of State, and all the Directors that have been giving  you this support. If we remain in our respective States, we'll write a long letter and send it to you. People will not know about it. We have come to seek partnership with you. We are ready in the field. We have done our political evangelism and are prepared for the election of Mr. President. The partnership we seek today is to say we want to become volunteers who will be helping to supervise your projects. We have always been trying to get to sites. When we are not satisfied with the contractors, we take immediate action. Your Excellency, we want to be the catalyst towards those actions." In his vote of  thanks, the Honourable Minister of State for Works, Rt Hon. Muhammad Bello Goronyo, Esq described Senator Umahi as a patriotic professional with deep expertise in the road sector. He emphasised that Nigeria is fortunate to have a Minister so knowledgeable and committed to nation-building. He also thanked the APC Forum for their warm visit, encouraging party chairmen across the States to continue supporting the Renewed Hope Agenda. “Your presence here is not just a show of solidarity but a testament to our shared commitment to building a stronger infrastructure base for Nigeria. ...

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COMMENDS PROGRESS ON ABUJA-KADUNA ROAD, SECTION I, PHASE 1 The Honourable Minister of State for Works, Bello Muhammad Goronyo, Esq., expressed his satisfaction with the progress and quality of work on the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Road (Zuba Section). He commended the contractor, Messrs Infiouest (Nig.) Limited for its professionalism and alignment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda. During an inspection tour, the Minister announced that approximately six (6) kilometres-three (3) kilometres on each side had already been completed using reinforced rigid concrete pavement. “The quality of work delivered so far reflects the President’s unwavering commitment to national development through robust infrastructure,” he stated. He praised the dedication of the workforce and the use of modern equipment, saying, “The commitment of the workers is commendable. I salute their resilience and their support for Mr. President's vision. “The Minister emphasized that once completed, the road will reduce travel time, improve safety, curb insecurity, enhance trade, and create employment opportunities. Regarding the quality of construction materials, the Minister remarked, “What we are seeing here is superb. The reinforced rigid pavement is expected to last 50 to 100 years superior to conventional asphalt.” Mr. Robert Turner, the Project Manager and Representative of the construction company reaffirmed its commitment to delivering a world-class project. “There are no shortcuts. We are giving our very best to achieve the project’s goals,” he stated. Turner highlighted that the team operates daily from 6:00 a.m. to as late as 9:00 p.m., constrained only by security concerns along the corridor. “We have a spirited and dedicated team. Despite challenges, we are fully focused on delivering this critical project within record time,” he added. Earlier in his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Works, Engr. Olufunsho O. Adebiyi, emphasised the strategic importance of adopting rigid pavement technology, especially given Nigeria’s soil composition, water table level, and high axle loads. “Rigid pavement is new to Nigeria, but it has become necessary due to the consistent failure of flexible pavements under our local conditions,” he explained. He cited previous challenges with bitumen and cement interactions that compromise flexible pavements, particularly in high-traffic corridors like the Apapa-Oworonshoki Expressway in Lagos state. “This new method, reinforced with Y20 steel bars at 200mm centres, is stronger than most bridge decks,” he noted. Adding that “It is a sustainable solution that will outlast many of us and withstand the test of time.” Engr. Adebiyi urged road users to be patient during the construction period, assuring them that the phased opening of completed sections will help minimize disruptions. “We understand the temporary discomfort, but in the end, this road will significantly improve lives and the economy.” The Zuba section of the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano road remains a critical link in Nigeria’s transport network, and the Federal Government has reaffirmed its determination to ensure its successful and timely delivery. ...