Some engineers have advised Nigeria to develop standards that would guide the engineering profession in the country.
They said that lack of engineering standards was hampering the performance of indigenous engineers and efforts to promote local content.
Mike Nwere, a founding member, Nigerian Institute of Civil Engineers, said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday, that standards were necessary in the engineering profession.
According to him, engineering standards are documents that specify characteristics and technical details that must be met by the products, systems and processes that the standards cover.
Nwere, a former Deputy Project Manager, Julius Berger Nigeria, PLC., explained that the purpose of developing and adhering to standards was to ensure minimum performance, meet safety requirements, and ensure tasks were consistent and repeatable.
He noted that most countries have workable standard to guide the engineering sector except Nigeria.
“Every country have engineering standards, but the Nigerian engineers do not have it, so the Nigerian engineer is faced with strange standards from other countries’ engineers working here.
“For instance China Construction Engineering Company that is in Nigeria have all the literature in Chinese, Julius Berger has its literature in German.
“These companies when they come here, they adhere to their codes and literatures in their language.
“So, the Nigerian engineer has no advantage simply because we don’t have our own standards and code; we are still using the British code which is not right.
“Codes, standards, and regulations are developed, maintained, and promoted by regulatory agencies, engineering societies.
“So, the government should encourage Standard Organisation of Nigeria and Council for Regulation of Engineers In Nigeria to articulate standards for Nigeria .’’
Also, Ben-Osy Okoh, Chairman, Abuja Chapter of the institute, urged the government to come out with policies that would protect Nigerian engineers.
Okoh said this was because most foreign companies tend to neglect the welfare of engineers on site even after serious injury or death.
“The welfare of engineers is very important in the engineering practice, the productivity of the engineers borders on how the employees treat them; so, if their welfare is good they perform better.’’ he said
He urged young engineers to always upgrade their knowledge, so as to meet up with global best practice and contribute their quota to national development.
Okoh urged government sanction contractors who abandon government projects or use substandard materials that result in the collapse of any structure.
According to him, the measure would help the country to maintain high standard of engineering practice and encourage engineers to work diligently.
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