By Daniel Gumm

WARRI—Experts in Metallurgical, Materials and other fields of engineering have blamed Nigeria’s economic woes on the neglect of non-oil sectors such as steel, solid minerals, renewable energy and agriculture, insisting that vibrant economies such as the United States, China, Japan, Canada, Germany, Malaysia and Singapore, do not belong to the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, but are investing in steel and indigenous technology.

Speaking, weekend, at the Petroleum Training Institute in Effurun, Delta State, when the Nigerian Society of Engineers, NSE, Warri branch, organised a public lecture, a former Chairman of NSE, Warri branch and current Deputy Director (Training) in the Department of Welding Engineering and Offshore Technology, PTI, Nigeria, Dr. Michael Adegbite, said that for Nigeria to experience techno-economic development in its quest at achieving vision 2020, there must be sustainable development, improved construction and manufacturing capabilities as well as robust transportation system that will lay emphasis on “movement of people rather than vehicles,” which causes vehicular traffic and loss of man hours.

President of NSE, Engr. Ademola Olorunfemi in his remarks, noted that any national economic development that is sustainable must depend on human and material development.