The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Engr. Muttaqha Rabe Darma, has declared that Nigeria’s built environment industry must be properly regulated to enhance safety, improve standards, and unlock the contribution of the sector to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
The Minister made the declaration on Monday, while receiving the President of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), Prof. Sadiq Zubair Abubakar, and members of the COREN delegation on a courtesy visit to his Ministry in Abuja.
Darma expressed appreciation for the visit and described the engineering profession as a critical partner in advancing Nigeria’s housing and infrastructure agenda.
He emphasised the strategic importance of the built environment sector to national development, noting that proper regulation of the industry would significantly enhance its contribution to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
“Before I leave this office, we must regulate the industry. It is one of the landmark achievements that I have set my mind on doing,” he declared.
According to the Minister, the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development is set to present a policy framework for regulating the built environment industry to stakeholders later this month for discussion and input, before forwarding to Federal Executive Council for consideration.
He stressed that the policy would address issues such as building collapse, quackery, compliance with building codes, and the need for a coordinated regulatory framework involving all professional stakeholders.
The minister said that the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development is set to present a policy framework for regulating the built environment industry to stakeholders later this month for discussion and input, before forwarding to Federal Executive Council for consideration.
He stressed that the policy would address issues such as building collapse, quackery, compliance with building codes, and the need for a coordinated regulatory framework involving all professional stakeholders.
“There must be certain codes that all of us are responsible to follow and obey. We cannot have an industry as big as what we have and quacks are controlling it,” the Minister stated.
Darma further called on COREN and other professional bodies within the built environment sector to actively participate in the stakeholder consultation process, describing engineers as a vital component of the Ministry’s drive to strengthen regulation and improve industry standards.
Earlier in his remarks, the President of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), Prof. Sadiq Zubair Abubakar, had congratulated the Minister on his appointment and described the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development as a key engineering-based ministry.
He said COREN was delighted to have one of its own as Minister and expressed confidence that Darma would add value to the Ministry and strengthen the built environment sector.
The COREN President stated that the delegation was also at the Ministry to formally invite the Minister to the 34th Engineering Assembly, which he described as one of the largest gatherings of engineering professionals in the country, attracting between 8,000 and 9,000 participants annually, including engineers, technologists, technicians, craftsmen, and artisans.
According to him, the 2026 Assembly will be held in a dual format, with both physical and virtual participation, to accommodate attendees from Nigeria and the diaspora.
Abubakar noted that the Minister of Housing and Urban Development traditionally serves as a co-pilot of the Assembly alongside the Minister of Works, who would come in two capacities, also representing the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He further explained that this year’s Engineering Assembly would focus on public safety, regulation, compliance, and enforcement.
(The Whistler)