Nigeria Cracks Down On Substandard Infrastructure As FG Seals New Innovation Pact
In a bold move to safeguard public safety and improve infrastructure standards, the Federal Government has declared an end to the era of substandard construction materials and practices in Nigeria.
Speaking at the signing of a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Innovation Mentoring for Climate-Resilient Infrastructure in Abuja, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, said the government will no longer treat innovation as a buzzword, but as a tool for survival and national progress.
“We will not fold our arms while substandard materials are used, geotechnical surveys ignored, or professional standards diluted. We will monitor, inspect and act,” the Minister stated firmly.
The MoU brings together the Ministry, the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), the Council of Nigeria Mining Engineers and Geoscientists (COMEG), the Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON), and technical consultants, Tectonics Engineering Group.
Chief Nnaji explained that the partnership aims to institutionalise a national framework using real-time monitoring, smart materials, and standardised testing to ensure that infrastructure in Nigeria is resilient, sustainable and capable of withstanding the test of time.
“This initiative supports President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly in infrastructure development, economic competitiveness and national cohesion,” he added.
On behalf of the partners, Engr. Aisha Kawu Gombe described Nigeria’s infrastructure crisis as urgent and stressed that the only lasting solution lies in embracing Science, Technology and Innovation (STI).
She expressed optimism that the collaboration would lead to the establishment of modern, well-equipped laboratories capable of driving socio-economic development across the country.
The agreement is widely seen as a step in the right direction for a country in need of durable and forward-thinking infrastructure solutions.
