Professional Practice and Ethical Standards in Structural Engineering Consulting Firms in South-South Nigeria

The professional practice environment for structural engineering consulting in South-South Nigeria presents distinctive challenges arising from client pressure, regulatory enforcement gaps, and competitive market dynamics that can compromise adherence to ethical standards. This study examines professional practice and ethical compliance among registered structural engineering consulting firms operating in Rivers, Delta, and Edo States within the South South geopolitical zone. A survey of 85 registered professional engineers employed in consulting firms was conducted using an anonymous structured questionnaire, assessing attitudes and reported behaviours related to design standard compliance, conflict of interest management, whistleblowing, professional indemnity insurance, and continuing professional development. Results indicate that 61 percent of respondents reported at least one instance of client pressure to reduce structural element sizes below those required by design standards in the preceding three years, with 28 percent admitting to compliance with such requests. Only 34 percent of respondents held current professional indemnity insurance coverage, and 47 percent had not attended any continuing professional development activity in the preceding 12 months, falling short of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria minimum requirement. Ethical decision-making confidence was significantly lower among engineers with less than five years of post-qualification experience, suggesting a mentorship and guidance gap. The study recommends mandatory professional indemnity insurance as a condition of COREN firm registration renewal, structured mentorship programmes for early-career engineers, and enhanced COREN enforcement capacity in the region. Keywords: professional ethics, structural engineering consulting, South-South Nigeria, COREN, professional development.