The Nigerian Association for Engineering Geology and the Environment (NAEGE) will convene its 11th Annual International Conference and Exhibition from Monday, September 14, to Wednesday, September 16, 2026, in Abuja, with a call for greater involvement of engineering geologists in the planning and design of infrastructure projects.
NAEGE is a specialist group under the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS) that advances engineering geology and environmental science across the country. In practice, its members are regulated by the Council of Nigerian Mining Engineers and Geoscientists (COMEG)—the federal regulatory body in Nigeria responsible for controlling and supervising the practices of professionals in mining engineering, geosciences, metallurgy, and related extractive sectors.
The three-day NAEGE conference, scheduled to commence at 9am daily at Exclusive Serene Hotel, Wuye, Abuja, will bring together professionals and stakeholders in engineering, geology, construction, environmental management and related fields to deliberate on sustainable infrastructure development and smart cities in Nigeria.
The conference has as its theme, “Geoinformation for Sustainable Infrastructure in a Rapidly Developing Nation Like Our Own, for Smart Cities.”
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja ahead of the conference, the National President of NAEGE, Prof. Salome Waziri, said the event would provide a platform for professionals and other stakeholders to exchange knowledge and develop practical solutions to the challenges confronting infrastructure development in the country.
Waziri stressed the need for engineering geologists to be actively involved in infrastructure planning and design, particularly against the backdrop of persistent road, building and other structural failures across Nigeria.
She said Nigeria’s rapid urbanisation had made it imperative for government and other stakeholders to ensure that infrastructure was properly designed and constructed based on a sound understanding of the underlying geology.
According to her, many cases of structural and road failures could be prevented if proper subsurface investigations were conducted before construction and the findings incorporated into engineering designs.
She explained that engineering geologists are trained to investigate the subsurface and determine the strength and characteristics of geological materials before structures are erected on them.
“You need to know the strength of anybody before you place a load on that person. And so we also need to know the strength of the subsurface before you can place any load on it,” she said.
Waziri noted that roads and other infrastructure often traverse different geological formations, meaning that the strength and behaviour of the subsurface could vary significantly from one location to another.
She therefore urged civil engineers and other construction professionals to take geological findings into consideration during the design and construction of infrastructure.
She warned that inadequate investigation of the subsurface could result in structural failures, loss of lives, and destruction of property.
Beyond foundations, the NAEGE president also highlighted the importance of understanding the geological properties of construction materials, groundwater conditions and potential environmental hazards associated with geological materials.
She noted that some construction materials could contain substances capable of posing health risks if their properties were not properly investigated.
Waziri said NAEGE was using the forthcoming conference to promote stronger collaboration among geologists, civil engineers, architects, builders, contractors, lawmakers, academics and other stakeholders.
She said such collaboration was necessary to achieve sustainable and smart cities capable of responding to the challenges associated with Nigeria’s rapid urban growth.
The NAEGE president urged stakeholders and members of the public to participate in the conference, stressing that every professional discipline had a role to play in ensuring that Nigeria’s expanding cities were safe, sustainable, and resilient.
