FG to leverage executive order for local content, mineral resources development

The Ministry of Science and Technology has vowed to deploy the use of Executive Order No 5 to boost local content, while also adding value to the nation’s natural endowments.
   
The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, explained that the Executive Order is a revolutionary order aimed at placing Nigerian professionals at the centre of activities where Nigeria has competitive and comparative advantage.
   
The Minister at the 5th High Level Industry-Science-Government dialogue on Atlantic interactions, stressed that the present administration is determined to ensuring that Nigeria efficiently exploit its natural endowments to create wealth, job opportunities and eradicating poverty in the country.

In his words: “We are not always happy as a government where a Nigerian finds it difficult to get employed so that is where Executive Order No 5 is critical and will make tremendous contributions to national economic development.”He said the event would give Nigerian professionals the opportunity to conduct research to understand the Atlantic Ocean to see how best Nigerian can exploit the tremendous benefit and resources of the Ocean.
   
“Nigeria will benefit a lot from this initiative because we have a long coast line and we also need to develop the nation’s economy. Anything that will help us to create jobs, wealth and eradicate poverty is welcomed. He said the benefits of the study of the Atlantic Ocean are numerous, saying that it would also help to create the opportunity to build friendship among countries, solve problems of the environment including global warming and climate change.
   
“This will help to give hope to those whose livelihood depends on the Atlantic Ocean, thereby promoting peaceful coexistence among nations,” he said.Also, the president, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Mansur Ahmed represented by the Head of Corporate Affairs, MAN, Ambrose Oruche, said MAN is always in support of efforts aimed at improving the environment and preserving the nation’s natural endowments for the benefit of humanity.He commended the Federal Government particularly the Ministry of Science and Technology for the diverse support systems so far created to enhance sustainable manufacturing in Nigeria. 

“Noteworthy are the efforts of the Ministry towards development of local input for production and reduction in the dependence on foreign input; linkages between Industries and Research Institutes; facilitation of Industrial Research base on manufacturers’ needs and the implementation of the Executive Order 005 aimed at improving local content in public procurement and the Science, Technology and Innovation Promotion Roadmap and many more,” he said.

He also lauded the representatives of other countries along the coastlines of the Atlantic Ocean, local and international experts on coastal line, saying that the outcome of interaction has contributed in no small measure to reducing the adverse effects of dumping of waste in the sea and on the environment.
   
“In our world today, effective management of the Atlantic Ocean and its resource endowments is central to beneficial trade, transportation, maritime activities, employment creation, poverty reduction, food security, industrial development, commercial transactions and safety of the environment,” he added. He noted that the effect of poor management of the ocean and coastal lines are numerous and usually devastating, pointing out that the abuse of the coastal lines strongly accounts for the level and magnitude of flooding that occur in our coastal cities. 

He recommended that deliberate effort should be made to develop strategies to address flooding as well as educating stakeholders on the need to treat the ocean with available best practice
   
“MAN is aware of the importance of protecting and sustaining the environment, particularly the ocean waters.  As a matter of policy, MAN encouraged the members of the Association to adopt best practices in the management of waste and has established structured partnership platforms with Environmental Protection Agencies (EPA) and other regulatory bodies with similar mandate to ensure seamless compliance to environmental standards,” he averred.