Engineers Must Shape Policies Driving Nigeria’s Infrastructure – NSE

The President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Engr. Ali Alimasuya Rabiu has charged Nigerian engineers to play a more active role in policymaking and politics, saying their technical expertise is critical to shaping policies that will drive infrastructure development and economic transformation.

Rabiu said engineers could no longer afford to remain on the sidelines of political and policy decisions if Nigeria was to achieve meaningful and sustainable infrastructural development.

He stated this in his opening remarks, presented on his behalf by Engr. Oludayo Oluyemi, at the 2026 Conference and Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Institution of Highway and Transportation Engineers (NIHTE) in Lagos.

The conference, themed “Diversifying Nigeria’s Economy Through Strategic International Transportation Link,” brought together engineers, policymakers, academics, industry stakeholders and other professionals to deliberate on transportation infrastructure and national development.

“We need to get involved in politics. And when we get involved, we should know that it is for the greater good of all of us, not for selfish interest,” Rabiu said.

He said engineers were uniquely positioned to contribute to national development because of their understanding of infrastructure, terrain, risks and technical solutions to developmental challenges.

“There is no other profession that understands infrastructural innovation like the engineers. If a nation wants to be developed, infrastructural innovation must be at the forefront,” he said.

The NSE president also charged engineers to provide evidence-based solutions to Nigeria’s infrastructure and economic challenges, stressing that transportation must be deliberately planned and developed as an integrated system.

He said Nigeria must move beyond its heavy dependence on roads and develop an interconnected transportation network in which roads, railways, waterways and other modes complement one another.

Rabiu pointed to countries where passengers can combine different modes of transportation, including rail, roads, boats and cable cars, to reach their destinations, saying such systems were products of intentional planning.

He maintained that engineers must be central to transportation planning because of their knowledge of terrain, infrastructure risks and the technical requirements for developing sustainable transport systems.

According to him, transportation infrastructure must be conceived, designed, implemented and maintained with sustainability in mind.

He also called for strict adherence to engineering designs and specifications in the execution of public infrastructure projects, warning against compromises that could undermine the quality and durability of infrastructure.

Using road construction as an example, Rabiu said proper design alone was insufficient without effective supervision and implementation.

“It is not enough to design. It is good enough to supervise and implement according to design,” he said.

He further noted that Nigerians’ actions and inactions could affect the country’s image, particularly in the eyes of foreign visitors, stressing that infrastructure reflected the country.

According to him, the quality of Nigeria’s roads and other public infrastructure could influence how the country is perceived internationally.

Earlier, Rabiu commended NIHTE for sustaining professional engagement, knowledge sharing, capacity development and inter-professional collaboration.

He described the annual conference as an important platform for engineers, policymakers, industry leaders and academics to examine issues critical to Nigeria’s sustainable development.

The NSE president said transportation remained the lifeblood of economic activity because it connects producers with markets, industries with raw materials, communities with opportunities and Nigeria with the global economy.

He said Nigeria’s efforts to diversify its economy and reduce dependence on traditional sources of revenue required the development of “modern, resilient and interconnected transportation infrastructure.”

Rabiu therefore charged engineers to deploy innovation, technical expertise and evidence-based solutions to transform transportation into an engine of economic growth.

He also disclosed that preparations were underway for the 2026 International Engineering Conference and Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, scheduled for November 30 to December 4, 2026, at the International Conference Centre, Maiduguri, Borno State.

The conference, themed “Engineering Innovation for Enhanced Security and Sustainable National Development,” will bring together engineers, policymakers, researchers, industry leaders, development partners and security experts to examine engineering solutions to Nigeria’s security and development challenges.

Rabiu said the conference had received support from security agencies, adding that the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa, had confirmed his attendance to deliver the keynote address.

He added that the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Olatunji Rilwan Disu, and the Director-General of the Department of State Services, Mr Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, had also accepted invitations to participate.

He urged participants at the NIHTE conference to use their deliberations to develop practical, evidence-based solutions that support economic diversification and improve Nigeria’s transportation infrastructure.