Daily Trust - the online edition

The Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), yesterday in Abuja embarked on site tours to Wuye ultra modern market, where it urged the developer to ensure council’s standards are followed while constructing the market in order to avoid building collapse.

The chairman of the Abuja chapter of the engineering Regulation and monitoring body, Engr. Umar Jibrin, who briefed journalists after the site tour, said they were not fully satisfied with the building standard followed by the developer handling the project, All Purpose Shelter Limited.

He said although the developer has performed fairly well, a lot needs to be done to meet COREN standards in building, noting that, "technical standards must be met in order to ensure the market buildings stand the test of time."

According to him, COREN was concerned about the quality of work on site, especially given the large number of people the market will cater for after completion.

He stated that some of the building structures needed substantial improvements and warned developers in Abuja to abide by approved building codes to check the incidence of collapse buildings which has claimed lives and properties across the country.

In his speech, the administrative manager, All Purpose Shelters limited, Mr Femi Oladosu, said they are going to abide by the building code in their attempt to meet standards.

He said the company was one of the successful bidders when the former minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, called on private developers for the market on Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis.

It will be recalled that COREN, had in February, launched the engineering regulation monitoring body in its attempt to arrest the incessant building collapse in the country.

Speaking at the occasion in Abuja, president of COREN, Engr. Habu Gumel, said one of the major mandates of the council is to regulate the practice of the engineering profession in all aspects and ramifications.

He said: "The ERM programme is being carried out by a selected and experienced engineers to visit engineering organizations to ensure that their operations conform with the law establishing COREN."