Nigeria, July 16 -- Speaking on Wednesday at the maiden International Conference of the Faculty of Engineering and Environmental Studies of Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto (UDUS), Bugaje said the country's inability to build local engineering capacity has forced it to depend on foreign expertise for major infrastructure projects.

He cited the Dangote Refinery in Lagos, which he said was designed by Indian engineers; the Kaduna Refinery, by a Japanese firm; and the two Port Harcourt refineries, by Shell. He added that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the proposed Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway were also designed offshore.

According to him, the shortage of hands-on experience and proper mentorship has continued to weaken Nigeria's e...