FCDA Director seeks better patronage for local engineers

A Deputy Director at the Federal Capital Territory Administration,  Engr. Joseph Akinteye, has thrown his weight behind local engineers on their need for patronage by government in large construction projects across Nigeria.   Engr. Akinteye stated this in an interview with our correspondent in Port Harcourt,  Rivers State, stressing that indigenous engineers had what it takes  […]

A Deputy Director at the Federal Capital Territory Administration,  Engr. Joseph Akinteye, has thrown his weight behind local engineers on their need for patronage by government in large construction projects across Nigeria.  

Engr. Akinteye stated this in an interview with our correspondent in Port Harcourt,  Rivers State, stressing that indigenous engineers had what it takes  to compete with their colleagues in any part of the world and called  on the Council for Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), to assist in uncapping opportunities available for local engineers. 

 He admitted that  local engineers were facing  some challenges such as  poor remuneration for indigenous engineers in the public sector and the inadequate utilization  on most of the large construction projects in Nigeria. 

 He  said in the past, Nigerian engineers handled critical infrastructure projects such as Goronyo Dam in Sokoto State, Kafin Zaki Dam in Bauchi railway projects, Tiga Dam, Dadin Kowa Dam in Gombe State and several highway projects.

Akinteye  said that  Nigeria had competent indigenous construction companies that can compete with any construction firm in the world, adding that they needed encouragement by all the regulatory agencies to succeed.

“The uncapped opportunities available for local Engineers are numerous but more needs to done at Council for Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) and institutional levels to take full advantage of many existing and waiting projects,” he said. 

He also said there were strong prospects for local engineers in Nigeria, adding that  the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) and COREN need to be at the forefront of advocacy  and regulation in this regard.

Engr. Joseph Olatunde Akinteye is a Deputy Director with the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Abuja. He won the FCT NYSC Award during his Service Year in 1996, and this led to his automatic employment with the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Abuja.

 During the course of his service, Engr. Akinteye participated in various planning and engineering projects, encompassing the environment and urban and regional planning of the Federal Capital Territory.

 Some of the notable projects he was involved in the planning include the Construction of Usuma Dam Water Treatment Plant; the Rural Water Supply Schemes for several schools and villages; construction of the Eagle Square Motor Park; the design and development of pedestrian bridges and other traffic control measures across the FCT (World Bank-Assisted Projects); construction of Tanks 1 & 6 and other main trunks; design and construction of pedestrian circulatory system within the Federal Capital City (FCC).

He has served as the Special Assistant (Technical) to the Executive Director/CEO, FCT Water Board; Projects Coordinator (Rolling Stocks and Rail Operations) for Abuja Rail Mass Transit, Coordinator for the Planning, Engineering Design and Project Management for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Water Supply Schemes for Schools, Hospitals and Villages within FCT, and also as Special Assistant (Technical) to the Senior Special Assistant on Utilities to the FCT Honourable Minister.