Minister, NSE pledge collaboration for viable metallurgical industry bill

MINISTER of Mines and Steel Development, Musa Sada, and the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) have agreed to collaborate to ensure that the draft of Nigerian Metallurgical Industry Bill 2014, which had been subjected to review is promptly enacted.

    The Minister noted that the committee on the draft of the bill, which had been subjected to review and chaired by one of the mining operators has various inputs from relevant professional bodies.

    Speaking during a courtesy call to his office by a delegation from the NSE led by its President, Ademola Olorunfemi, the minister said that successes and failures of any sector were determined by its professional inputs.

    He pointed out that the “first step was for a binding law to succeed its acceptance, and the best way to get a law to be accepted is to get those people that you are going to apply the law to form the law themselves.”

    Sada expressed the potentials of sustainable collaboration of relevant professionals in solid minerals development. He stressed that the nation’s minerals and metals sector can compete favorably with other sectors of the economy if properly harnessed and adequately funded.

   The minister noted that “my belief is that the success and achievement of nation has a lot to do with professionalism, those countries that have gone far ahead of us, there is one peculiar thing about them. I keep urging us as professionals not to give up, that is why I believe having to relate with ourselves and identify all the relevant sectors is very important.”

    He assured the delegation that the opinions and views from relevant professionals would be brought on board towards the development of the sector.

    On the issue of National Infrastructure Report, the minister said the development of the maiden report card for the country, which was being conducted by the Nigerian Society of Engineers would give an insight into the way forward in area of infrastructural development for the country.

    Earlier, President of the NSE and leader of the delegation, Ademola Olorunfemi said the delegation was in the ministry to explore on the area of collaboration for the growth of the minerals and metals sector.

 Olorunfemi pledged the support of the Nigerian Society of Engineers towards the establishment of a vibrant Nigerian Metallurgical Industry Bill, 2014.