By Oscarline Onwuemenyi

The Federal Government has urged operators in the nation’s extractive industries to operate in a professional manner that will ensure the sustainability of the environment and help create opportunities for wealth creation for millions of Nigerians.

The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Mr. Musa Mohammed Sada, stated this during a Stakeholders’ Forum on Compliance and Enforcement, organised by the Council of Nigerian Mining Engineers and Geoscientists, COMEG, in Abuja.

He charged professional bodies to uphold standards and best practices in their areas of operation, saying, “There is no gainsaying that an established and well-managed extractive industry will accelerate economic, social and political growth of the country through the provision of gainful employment and a rise in national economic earnings.

In addition, solid and liquid minerals development will provide local raw materials for industries and bring vital infrastructure and wealth to rural areas.”

Sada stressed that the mining industry is a global industry with many countries competing for exploration funds, adding that the government is generally creating an environment that will enable businesses to flourish.

President Goodluck Jonathan

“There is therefore a need to develop the mineral resources of the country along policies, actions and strategies that are conducive to investment. The policy thrust would respond to the new and global developments in the sector, and furthermore, develop human capital development in the extractive industry. Most importantly, this will develop the legal and regulatory framework consistent with international best practices,” he said.

He argued that the global increase in demand for extractive industry commodities has enhanced the need for quality and adequate manpower for the sector. “Government recognizes the need to continuously develop skills in order to meet the demand for professionals in the extractive sector.

He added that “the registration of a professional is a testimony that the individual has achieved a standard of proficiency sufficient to guarantee the possession of the knowledge and skills required for the efficient practice of his area of discipline.”

Sada, however, charged members to upgrade their skills as best as possible in the light of advancing knowledge. “A member is therefore expected to, at all times, possess and exercise the skills and judgment of an average member of the profession practicing his or her discipline.”

Also speaking, the Registrar of COMEG, Engr. Jonathan Ikeako, dislosed that the council has developed a Code of Conduct and Ethics for members, to ensure the proper exercise of skills within the prevailing knowledge and disciplines.

According to him, “The member shall at all time act in a judicious manner and with full regard to the code of practice of the profession in accordance with the rules laid down in the Code of Conduct and Ethics.”

The forum was meant to sensitize practitioners especially those in the Mining and Quarrying industries, oil and gas as well as water and well-drilling, and construction on the need to regulate their activities through formal registration with COMEG in accordance with the Decree (now Act) No 40 of 1990.

“The main thrust is to regulate and control the training, deployment, discipline and practices of professionals, who work in the extractive industries. These professionals include geologists, mining engineers, metallurgists, mineral processors, hydro-geologists, hydrologists and in other related fields,” he stated.

COMEG registers all persons who are authorized to practice specialized professions in Nigeria; approves any course for the training of prospective members of these professions as stipulated in the Decree; approves any institution either in Nigeria or elsewhere, which it considers to be properly organised and equipped for conducting the training of relevant professions to be registered.

The Council also sets standards for candidates who wish to be registered to show that such candidates have sufficient knowledge and skill to practice the relevant professions, besides maintaining discipline in the professions.