By Glory JAMES
The Council for Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) has lauded the Akwa Ibom State Government for its strict observance of standard procedures, use of registered professionals and implementation of projects with appropriately tested quality materials.
The commendations were given in Uyo when the Council led by its Chief Inspector Engineer Benjamin Ekanem, led its monitoring team to the site of the 21 Storey Building Office Complex being constructed by the government through the VKS Engineering Company .
Engr. Ekanem said the regular monitoring and inspection of critical public infrastructure such as the 21 storey building Complex, has become imperative due to incessant incidences of building collapse in the country.
The COREN Chief Inspector who said every detail of a building was critical to its integrity and durability said most of the buildings that collapsed were a direct result of cutting corners during their construction through the use of unregistered professionals as well as substandard materials.
He emphasized that such exercises which will be regularly carried out on public structures un construction until they are completed, was not to wit hunt any individual, organization or the government but in the safety and best interest of the State, its citizenry and the nation at large.
The inspection he noted was also in compliance with Executive Order 5, signed by His Excellency, the President.
The Commissioner for Special Duties and Aviation Development, Mr Akan okon, who expressed the willingness of the state government under Governor Udom Emmanuel to subject itself and projects to every standard procedures, required for such projects, said his Ministry had already set up a team of qualified Professionals to diligently monitor every stage of the 21 Storey building project embarked upon by government through the Ministry, to ensure that the required standards were thoroughly adhered to.
Mr Okon said the project will afford building professionals in the Ministry to gain experience and lauded the COREN Monitoring Team for their dexterity to ensure that public buildings are constructed in a manner that will ensure the safety of the occupants.
The Commissioner also extolled the competency of the Contractor-VKS engineering and expressed the State Government’s satisfaction at the pace and standard of the project.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Special Duties and Aviation Development, Engr. Richard Ekpe said opening up the 21 Storey building site and other government development sites to all regulatory agencies, were testament to the Udom Emmanuel administration’s transparency disposition.
Engr. Richard Ekpe said if malpractices were tolerated or due processes at any stage were compromised, there will have been a second thought as to whether Federal Regulatory Agencies should be admitted.
He said the State government has further gone ahead to periodically brief its citizenry of every development stride while educating them on the best ways of taking advantage of the opportunities created in all facets. Such gesture the Permanent Secretary noted was worthy of support and encouragement.
The meeting features a detailed slide presentation of the specifics of the building by Architect Daniel Etteh of VKS as well as thorough inspection of the detailed aspects of the project by the COREN Monitoring team with all the workers on the site in place to respond to questions from the team.
Meanwhile the 21 Storey building office complex projects, one of the flagship projects of the Udom Emmanuel administration is on its 16th floor.
