The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) has called on professionals in the built environment to prioritise fire safety considerations in sustainable design practices within the construction sector.

The society also advocated stronger regulatory frameworks, increased research and innovation in resilient construction technologies, and mentorship of the next generation of engineers to embrace the principles.

The NSE President, Ali Rabiu, who made the call at a webinar themed “Building a Resilient Future: The Fire Safety-Sustainability Nexus in Nigerian Construction,” organised by the Board of Fellows, warned that efforts to develop greener buildings must not compromise safety, resilience and the protection of lives and property.

Rabiu said the theme underscores the critical relationship between fire safety and sustainability, adding that the future of Nigerian construction lies not only in developing greener buildings but also in creating safer, smarter and more resilient communities where sustainability and fire safety work together to drive national development.

“As an emerging and increasingly important area of professional practice, the integration of fire safety and sustainability offers a pathway to resilient infrastructure that safeguards lives, protects property and investments, and preserves the environment,” he said. “Building a resilient future for Nigeria requires recognising that fire safety and sustainability are not competing priorities but complementary pillars of sustainable development.”

According to him, by embedding robust fire protection measures within sustainable construction practices, “we can significantly reduce risks, mitigate environmental losses, protect valuable assets, and create infrastructure capable of supporting long-term economic growth and social prosperity.”

Rabiu disclosed that achieving these objectives requires strong governance, professional competence, technological innovation, effective stakeholder collaboration and an unwavering commitment to compliance, enforcement and continuous improvement.

“As we strive to minimise environmental impact, conserve resources, and enhance the well-being of our citizens, engineering projects must be conceived, designed, constructed and maintained to withstand a wide range of hazards and risks,” he said.

The guest speaker and Deputy National Chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Highway and Transportation Engineers (NIHTE), Dr Bola Mudasiru, said fire safety and sustainability represent two fundamental pillars of contemporary construction practice, requiring comprehensive attention to mitigate existential risks and ensure environmental stewardship.

Mudasiru noted that the built environment faces unprecedented challenges requiring integrated solutions that address both immediate safety concerns and long-term ecological impacts.

“Integration of these disciplines is no longer optional but essential, requiring a holistic framework that considers multiple interconnected factors such as regulatory compliance, technical innovation, stakeholder engagement, economic viability and environmental responsibility,” he said.

He called for mandatory green building standards, renewable energy integration, circular economy adoption and carbon reduction targets aligned with national climate commitments.

Mudasiru also advocated stronger enforcement, professional certification, mandatory passive and active fire protection systems, and regular third-party auditing protocols.

He further called for the development of rigorously enforced integrated fire safety and sustainability regulations with clear compliance pathways, verification protocols and meaningful penalties for non-compliance.

Mudasiru, who is the Vice President-Elect (Anglophone), West African Federation of Engineering Organisation (WAFEO), added that the construction sector must harness smart building technologies, advanced materials, digital tools and data analytics to enhance both fire safety performance and environmental outcomes.