DON CALLS FOR NATIONWIDE CORROSION COST ASSESSMENT, REGULATORY ACTION
The 150th inaugural lecturer of the University of Calabar (Unical), Prof. Peter Chukwuemeka Okafor, has called on national bodies, including the Nigerian Corrosion Association (NICA), the Council for the Regulation of Engineering (COREN), and the Corrosion Society of Nigeria (CSN) to form multidisciplinary teams that would conduct a robust, nationwide corrosion‑cost assessment.
He made the call at the Godswill Akpabio International Conference Centre while delivering the institution’s inaugural lecture titled “Taming the Silent Destroyer: Harnessing Sustainability to Combat Corrosion.”
Prof. Okafor stressed that precise data on the economic impact of corrosion is essential for shaping decisive policy, economic, and regulatory measures, justifying preventive spending, and unlocking long‑term sustainable development.
Okafor, a Professor of Physical and Materials Chemistry and Deputy Vice‑Chancellor for Research, Linkages and Collaborations, noted that adopting and enforcing proven corrosion‑control practices offers a “low‑hanging fruit” capable of delivering significant annual savings.
The Don emphasized that immediate and sustained investment is required for the research, development, and commercialization of “green corrosion inhibitors.”
He added that these bio‑based alternatives must replace toxic conventional inhibitors to ensure compliance with stringent environmental regulations and uphold global ecological responsibility.
A commitment to holistic corrosion management, he said, requires active collaboration across engineering, chemistry, economics, and public‑policy disciplines, balancing technical performance, financial feasibility, and environmental responsibility.
Prof. Okafor asserted that corrosion must be recognized and treated as a critical public‑safety issue, and that corrosion‑management principles should be a non‑negotiable factor from the earliest stages of infrastructure design through construction, operation, and maintenance to pre‑emptively safeguard assets and protect human life.
The Vice‑Chancellor of Unical, Prof. Florence Obi, commended the inaugural lecturer for a thought‑provoking lecture, noting that the topic could not be more timely for Nigeria’s infrastructure and economic aspirations.
She supported the call for a nationwide corrosion‑cost assessment, stating that it would go a long way toward combating corrosion.
The well‑attended lecture climaxed with the Vice‑Chancellor presenting a memento to the inaugural lecturer.
Public Relations Unlt
University of Calabar
