The federal government has inaugurated an initiative to strengthen the investigation of engineering failures and address the recurring menace of building collapses.

The initiative, known as the Certified Forensic Engineering Failure Investigator (CEFFI) certification programme, was inaugurated on Saturday in Abuja.

It was introduced by the Chartered Institute of Forensics and Certified Fraud Investigators of Nigeria (CIFCFIN), in partnership with the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) and the Nigeria Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI).

Speaking at the induction of the inaugural cohort of CEFFI professionals, Iliyasu Gashinbaki, president and chairman of the Governing Council of CIFCFIN, said the initiative stemmed from disturbing findings in a 2026 engineering study.

According to Mr Gashinbaki, the study identified 111 validated building collapse incidents in Nigeria between 2015 and 2025.

He said the incidents resulted in 321 deaths and 344 injuries, representing an average of approximately 32 deaths and 34 injuries annually within the dataset.

Mr Gashinbaki added that fire-related losses were equally sobering.

He said a recent analysis of documented incidents between 2022 and 2025 estimated at least N4.6 trillion in destroyed goods, property and business assets.

He said this amounted to roughly N1.15 trillion annually across the dataset.

Mr Gashinbaki said the figures demonstrated the need for Nigeria to move from reactive responses to evidence-based investigation and accountability.

He said the CEFFI initiative would bring together engineering, forensic science, law, regulation and investigation to strengthen the response to engineering failures.

“Where there is suspected negligence, fraud, malpractice or deliberate compromise of safety, properly conducted forensic engineering can preserve the technical evidence required,” he said.

He urged regulators, project owners, contractors, professional bodies and law enforcement agencies to ensure that engineering failures did not end with repairs, abandonment or silence.

Mr Gashinbaki said the initiative would help promote safer infrastructure, stronger institutions, better stewardship of public resources and the protection of human life.

In his remarks, COREN president, Sadiq Abubakar, said the collaboration was designed to equip engineers with both engineering expertise and forensic investigation skills.

Mr Abubakar described the initiative as a significant milestone in addressing longstanding gaps in the investigation of engineering failures, particularly within Nigeria’s construction and built environment.

He called for a critical mass of professionally trained forensic engineering investigators to strengthen infrastructure failure investigations across the country.

Mr Abubakar said forensic engineering investigations should extend beyond construction to mining, oil and gas, telecommunications, transportation, aviation and aerospace.

He said certified engineering failure investigators could play important roles in identifying the causes of failures and supporting improved professional and regulatory practices.

Mr Abubakar said the ultimate objective was to develop internationally recognised forensic engineering professionals capable of operating in Nigeria and globally.

He expressed hope that the partnership would deepen and expand, describing the training as an important step towards strengthening engineering regulation and professional capacity. 

(NAN)