Nigeria's Housing Minister Vows Regulation of Built‑Environment Sector

Nigeria’s Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Engr. Muttaqha Rabe Darma, announced a policy framework aimed at regulating the country’s built‑environment industry. The proposal, to be presented to stakeholders later this month and then to the Federal Executive Council, seeks to address persistent problems such as building collapses, unqualified “quack” practitioners, poor compliance with building codes, and the lack of a unified regulatory structure.

Darma made the declaration during a courtesy visit by the President of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), Prof. Sadiq Zubair Abubakar, and highlighted the strategic importance of the sector for public safety, standards improvement, and contribution to Nigeria’s GDP. He called on COREN and other professional bodies to engage actively in the consultation process, noting engineers as vital partners. The meeting also included an invitation to Darma for the 34th Engineering Assembly, which will focus on public safety, regulation, compliance, and a tiered sanctioning regime to align engineering practice with global standards.