The Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, has assured indigenous engineering firms and young Nigerian engineers increased involvement in the state’s infrastructure projects.
Hamzat gave the assurance during a fireside chat with members of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Lagos State Chapter, on Tuesday.
The engagement, which held at the Oyebolu Engineering Resource Centre, University of Lagos, Akoka, had the theme, “The Business of Lagos Is Engineered: From Stability to Shared Prosperity”.
The deputy governor said that engineers must be involved in government projects from the planning stage to ensure quality, technical accountability and value for money.
He stressed that engineering professionals should not be restricted to reviewing completed designs, but should contribute their expertise from project conception through implementation.
“We need to be more involved as engineers, from the beginning to the end, and not just be called upon to review projects we were not part of from the outset.
“What we will do is ensure that, before implementation, engineers are involved in the process to help select the right people for our state’s developmental projects,” he said.
Hamzat also disclosed plans to reserve a percentage of project-related employment for young engineers to enable them to gain practical experience, improve their skills and build professional capacity.
On indigenous participation in major infrastructure projects, he urged Nigerian engineering professionals and companies to strengthen their technical capacity.
He also urged them to uphold professional standards and position themselves to undertake complex projects.
Recalling the construction of the Ikoyi Link Bridge, Hamzat said that the state government had invited indigenous engineering companies to participate in the project, reflecting its preference for competent local firms.
He, however, noted that the initiative did not materialise as envisaged.
He maintained that strengthening local engineering capacity was essential to building a sustainable economy, retaining technical expertise in the country and ensuring that Nigerian companies played leading roles in infrastructure development.
He said: “As Nigerian engineers, we must be professional in our dealings.
‘’If Lagos wants to build anything, it will be in our best interest if a Nigerian company handles the project.”
Hamzat urged the NSE to deepen its engagement with the private sector and promote higher professional standards.
That, he said, was to ensure that indigenous engineering firms were adequately equipped to compete for and successfully execute major infrastructure projects.
The deputy governor also reaffirmed his commitment to addressing the state’s water and erosion challenges.
He described the challenges as critical priorities in the government’s broader vision of developing an efficient and integrated multimodal transportation system.
Earlier, the NSE President, Mr Ali Alimasuya Rabiu, called for stronger collaboration between government and the engineering profession.
Rabiu was represented by the immediate past President, Mrs Margaret Oguntala.
He advocated the establishment of a structured platform through which engineering professionals could contribute meaningfully to policy formulation, project implementation and infrastructure monitoring.
Rabiu said Lagos, as Nigeria’s commercial, industrial and financial hub, required sustained investments in resilient infrastructure, sustainable urban development, efficient transportation, reliable energy, water resources, environmental management and technological innovation.
‘’The engagement was organised to provide a credible professional platform for government, industry and other stakeholders.
‘’The aim is to harness the collective expertise of Nigerian engineers in shaping policies, advancing technology and accelerating national development, ‘’ the NSE president said.
In remarks, NSE Lagos Branch Chairman Babatunde James described the engagement as an opportunity for meaningful dialogue.
‘’It is also an opportunity for professional knowledge sharing and a better understanding of how engineering expertise could support the state’s development agenda, ‘’ he said.
James said that sustained dialogue between government and professional institutions was essential to advancing technology, innovation and sustainable development.
He noted that lasting progress required sound planning, technical expertise, institutional stability and effective resource management.
“As engineers, we have a critical role to play in developing practical solutions, strengthening infrastructure, promoting local technical capacity and supporting the state’s development priorities,” he said.(
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