COREN Grants Certification To Kwara Bridge, Other Projects

Ilorin, Kwara State– The Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) has conveyed its satisfaction with the ongoing capital projects initiated by the present administration of Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq in Kwara State.

COREN, the regulatory body overseeing engineering practices in Nigeria, expressed commendation for the commitment demonstrated by Governor Abdulrazaq’s government towards the infrastructural development of the state. The Council’s affirmation came after a thorough assessment of several key projects being undertaken across Kwara State.

Addressing journalists during the inspection tour of ongoing infrastructural projects by the state government on Wednesday, Engineer Bashiru Lawal, the chairman of the state technical committee of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) in Kwara state, emphasized that the inspection was a crucial aspect of the council’s mandate.

He highlighted that overseeing ongoing engineering projects across the country is an integral responsibility assigned to the council.

Among the projects scrutinized during the inspection were the Tunde Idiagbon flyover situated in the Tanke area of the Ilorin metropolis, an 11-story building structure commissioned by the Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KWIRS), and various personal infrastructure initiatives within the state.

“We are here to inspect the Tunde Idiagbon flyover structurally and aesthetically and tell the whole world our verdict about it. I have members of COREN with vast experience here with me. Structurally, the bridge is okay. It can take human and vehicular loads. Members of the public should not be afraid to ply the road.

“On aesthetics, the state government is working on it. I believe that by the time the government finishes with it, everything will be in order. What matters to us is the strength of the bridge.

“Before today, we’ve held meetings, looked at samples of test results, verified them, and found out that what has been done can stand the test of the day. So, we are recommending that Tunde Idiagbon flyover is okay for vehicular and human traffic,” he said.

The COREN technical expert, however, advised the state government to continue with asphalting just as finishing touches were being put on the bridge to enable motorists to use the two sides of the bridge.

He also appealed to the government to ensure proper maintenance of the infrastructure as well as others when they were completed.

“As far as Colin is concerned, we are satisfied with the structural stability of the bridge, and the aesthetic aspect will be perfect after finishing the work. We have confidence in the engineers supervising the project.”.

Engineer Lawal said that the ongoing reconstruction of some areas of the bridge was aimed at ensuring the delivery of quality jobs.

Also speaking, the supervising commissioner for works, Abdul Quawiy Olododo, said that the state government had to terminate the contract of the first contractor that handled the project because the firm failed to deliver a quality job at the specified time.

“The job of the first contractor that took this job has to be terminated due to obvious reasons because he could not deliver within the specified time.

“Part of the agreement was to deliver quality aesthetics for us, and when we noticed the defects, we had to terminate it to bring another contractor on board who could deliver to the specifications of our agreement,” he said.

The commissioner explained the government’s rationale for the delay leading up to the termination of the initial contract for the bridge, emphasizing that certain procedural steps needed to be meticulously followed in the process.

“There was a waiting period for us to complete the transition, and once it was done, work was ongoing. So, the bridge would be completed in the first quarter of next year,” he added.