The Nigerian Association for Engineering Geology and the environment (NAEGE) successfully hosted its 11th Annual International Conference and Exhibition at the Exclusive Serene Hotel, Abuja, from 13th to 18th September 2026.
The conference recorded an impressive turnout of over five hundred (500) participants from within and outside Nigeria, including senior government officials, industry leaders, academics, development partners, private sector representatives, and members of the public.
Distinguished guests included the Honorable Ministers/Representatives of related ministries including Works, Environment, Solid Minerals Development, Water Resources and Sanitation, Education, as well as the Director-General of key regulatory agencies, Captains of industry, NGOs, and international partners.
The theme of the conference was
Geo-Innovation for Sustainable Infrastructure and Environment in a Rapidly Urbanising Nation The sub-themes were as follows;
1. Engineering Geological Solutions for Urban Expansion and Smart Cities
2. Geothermal Resources as Alternative Energy Sources
3. Geotechnical Approaches to Problematic Soils in Nigeria
4. Proper Waste Management for Sustainable Development in Nigeria
5. Safer Mines Designs, Construction and Land Reclamation Practices
6. Digital Geoscience Tools for infrastructure Planning and Monitoring
7. Mines and Groundwater Safety
8. Emerging Technologies in Sustainable Construction Materials and Ground Characterization
The conference was formally declared open by the Honorable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. His Excellency Barr. (Dr.) Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, CON. A total of eighty (80) technical papers were presented, alongside high-level panel discussion and pre-conference brainstorming sessions on the theme and sub-themes
1. Rapid urban expansion is driving accelerated construction of roads, bridges, buildings, industries, railways, and other critical infrastructure, highlighting the need to build faster, but smarter and more sustainably. This increasing development pressure underscores the need to construct infrastructure not only faster but also more intelligently, safely and sustainably.
2. Engineering geology laboratories play critical role in the characterization and evaluation of sites for infrastructure development. The reliability of geological, geotechnical, and engineering investigations depends substantially on the availability of well-equipped laboratories, modern testing equipment, and appropriately trained technical personnel capable of operating, maintaining and managing such facilities.
3. Structural failures, particularly those associated with differential settlement, are often linked to inadequate understanding and characterization of subsurface conditions. Insufficient knowledge of the geological, geotechnical, and groundwater characteristics of a site can result in inappropriate foundation design and construction decisions.
4. Construction failures, poor waste management, water pollution, and unsafe mining practices are often linked to weak enforcement of policies and professional standards. In many cases, technical assessments are either not properly undertaken or not adequately considered during project approval. Technical reports for infrastructures built with little or no rocks and soils investigations are frequently submitted without certification by relevant professional institutions or by Council of Mining Engineers and Geoscientists (COMEG) registered engineering geologists. The absence of a national system for archiving geotechnical data at the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) also limits accessibility and informed decision-making.
5. Mining, excavation, and construction activities have left several areas degraded, including abandoned mine, borrow pits and sites from which construction materials have been extracted. These disturbed areas pose environmental, safety, and land-use challenges if left unrehabilitated and unreclaimed.
6. Rapid urbanization is generating increasing volumes and diverse types of waste, creating significant challenges for effective waste management and safe disposal. Inadequate waste segregation, characterization, and knowledge of subsurface conditions at disposal sites can increase environmental risks, including soil and groundwater pollution.
7. Geothermal resources are increasingly recognized as a potential source of clean and sustainable energy. Nigeria exhibits indications of geothermal potential, including warm and thermal springs and other associated geothermal signatures, which warrant systematic investigation and evaluation.
Recommendations
1. Advanced technologies such as GIS, remote sensing, geospatial tools, artificial intelligence, digital twins, modelling, and simulation should be leveraged to promote smarter, safer, and more sustainable infrastructural development.
2. Government is encouraged to provide sustained and adequate funding for the establishment, upgrading, and maintenance of engineering geology laboratories in tertiary institutions. Appropriate incentives, including reduced import duties and other fiscal measures, should also be introduced to facilitate the acquisition of modern laboratory equipment, while investment in the training and continuous professional development of laboratory personnel should be prioritised.
3. There is a need for comprehensive pre-construction feasibility and site investigation studies, incorporating geological, geophysical, geotechnical, and hydrogeological investigations, to adequately characterize subsurface conditions and inform safe, resilient, and sustainable foundation design.
4. Regulatory agencies should strengthen enforcement of policies and professional standards across construction, waste management, water resources, and mining. All technical reports involving rocks and soils should be certified by recognized professional institutions or COMEG-registered engineering geologists, and practicing professionals should submit geotechnical data to NGSA for national archiving and accessibility.
5. Degraded areas arising from abandoned mining pits, borrow pits, and the extraction of construction materials should be systematically reclaimed and rehabilitated. Appropriate reclamation measures should include backfilling, slope stabilization, restoration of drains, replacement of topsoil, and revegetation, where applicable, to restore environmental quality and promote safe and productive land use.
6. Effective urban waste management should prioritize the Three Rs—Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle—with waste properly categorized and segregated before disposal or recovery. Comprehensive pre-disposal investigations should also be undertaken to characterize the subsurface and assess the suitability of disposal sites, particularly with respect to potential negative impacts on soil and groundwater.
7. Advanced geophysical, geochemical, remote sensing, and other geological exploration techniques should be employed to identify, characterize, and evaluate potential geothermal sites in Nigeria for sustainable energy development.
Appreciation
The Association expresses profound gratitude to Barr. (Dr.) Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, CON, and the good people of Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, for their exceptional hospitality, support, and commitment to the success of the conference. Prof. (Mrs.) Salome Hephzibah Waziri (FNAEGE, FNMGS, FNAH), President of the Nigerian Association for Engineering Geology and the Environment (NAEGE)
