NSE makes case for local engineers

Imo State Chairman of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Emeka Ugoanyanwu, has urged all levels of government to stop relegating the qualified indigenous engineers to the background but utilise their ingenuity for infrastructure development across the country.

Ugoanyanwu, reiterated that any money invested on contracting indigenous Engineers, would be worthwhile.

The engineer who addressed his colleagues in Owerri at the weekend on the theme: “Engineering Intervention for Sustainable Development”, regretted that most poorly executed engineering jobs contracted to them allegedly by the governments were done by the mediocres / non professionals, urging that qualified engineers should be engaged to avoid failed jobs.

Ugoanyanwu, harped on the need for observance of the principles of supervision and monitoring in executing engineering work/projects at all levels for efficiency and effectiveness.

“The first second and third industrial revolution have come and gone and now the fourth revolution is on course while we have been left behind and being enslaved with primitive issues that have set us back in the past years.

“The fourth industrial revolution is bringing together physical, biological and digital system together to completely change mankind, while driverless and artificial intelligence is already with us yet with are still talking about cow colony in Nigeria”, he said.

The engineer urged his colleagues to rise to the occasion in order to save the nation from quagmire and backwardness, advising that leaders at all levels must be made to be accountable to their actions, through election of credible persons in places of authority to do the right thing.

Speaking, a Fellow of the Nigeria Institute of Structural Engineers, Ossai Obiako, lamented the record of failed projects in Imo State, attributing them to non-involvement of professionals in the various engineering fields.

Obiako, opined that Integrity Test be carried out on the two FlyOvers situate in Orji and Amakohia end of the state capital in Owerri, noting that the preliminary investigations done by the society proved unpalatable.

“We have numerous failed projects in Imo and we as professional body is calling on the state government to liaise with us let’s find lasting solution to these problems.

“The two flyovers have failed because it could no longer serve its purpose and the only solution is to take remedial action by subjecting them to integrity test to ensure safety of the masses,” he said.

The engineer advised pedestrians not to use the flyovers until certified fit by the professionals.

The Guardian gathered that a delegation of the Council for Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), led by the National Presedent, Kashim Ali, earlier, had in January faulted the two flyovers during their visit to the state.

The infrastructure has remained unused after its alleged completion.