Gabriel Ewepu Abuja-The Federal Government has charged the newly registered mining engineers under the auspices of Council of Nigerian Mining Engineers and Geoscientists, COMEG, to sustain and maintain professional standards in the extractive industry.

This was stated yesterday by the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Arc. Musa Sada, in an address at the 8th induction ceremony, organised by COMEG, and also urged the new mining professionals to ensure the positive impact on host communities and environment.

Sada said: “I must say the current Council has lived up to our expectations arising from the programmes it has so far executed since the inauguration of the Council. The induction of 210 individual professionals and 15 corporate professions add to this list of achievements.

The strategic importance of professionalism in the minerals and mining sector was buttressed through the mandate given to Council of Nigerian Mining Engineers and Geoscientists by Mr. President’s Transformation Agenda and Vision 20: 2020, which includes establishing professional programmes for mining professionals to ensure continuous professional development.

“Also to facilitate human capacity development to achieve enhanced capacity to supply 50 per cent skilled manpower required for all segments of the minerals and metals sector by prescribing and enforcing the minimum standards of education and experience to be obtained by persons qualified to practise as registered mining engineers and geoscientists.

“Let me seize this opportunity to congratulate all the inductees. Your registration as registered members of COMEG requires you to live up to the expectations of your professional code of conduct and ethics in order to promote and sustain the standards of practice in the Nigerian extractive industry.”

However, the Minister promised the support of government for activities carried out by COMEG as the sector cannot function without proper enforcement of regulations.

“The Ministry of Mines and Steel Development will continue to provide the enabling ground of professional practice in the extractive industry. The minerals and metals sector cannot function properly without regulations, monitoring and enforcement of the provisions of laws and regulations guiding mineral exploration and exploitation activities.

“In order to ensure that mining operations are carried out in line with world best practice, COMEG is once again urged to ensure that registered members comply with the provisions of these laws; the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007, Nigerian Minerals and Mining Regulations, 2011, the Explosives Act of 1964, and the Explosives Regulations 1967, and amongst others,” Sada stated.

He also urged COMEG to develop and enforce mandatory training programmes for all professionals in order to continuously expose registered members on modern technological development to tackle challenges faced by miners.

Meanwhile, COMEG has urged oil and gas companies, including some ministries to register mining professionals working with them. This call was made by the Chairman, COMEG, Chambers Oyibo, in his opening address at the induction ceremony.

“The induction ceremony of registered professionals is in accordance with the statutory provision as stipulated in Part IV Section 9 of the COMEG Act. This makes it compulsory for all qualified persons to register with COMEG.

“Today, we will conduct the public registration of 210 individual and 15 institutional members. This brings the total number of professionals registered to by COMEG till date is 2, 223 individuals and 84 institutional members.

“COMEG has also recorded tremendous success in mobilising corporate bodies operating in the Nigerian extractive industry to register as institutional members, whereby 15 companies, including Julius Berger Nigeria Limited are being inducted today. It is council’s hope that most companies operating in oil and gas sector will follow suit to register their companies with COMEG,” Oyibo added.