FG assures on local content in project planning, execution

The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, has said the passage of the government’s Executive Order Five into law will further enhance the consideration of Nigerian experts in the planning and execution of projects. The bill, which he said, has passed first reading in the National Assembly, when passed into law will ensure […]

The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, has said the passage of the government’s Executive Order Five into law will further enhance the consideration of Nigerian experts in the planning and execution of projects.

The bill, which he said, has passed first reading in the National Assembly, when passed into law will ensure that local engineers, technicians and experts are engaged in the construction of airports, seaports and other projects.

Onu who was represented by the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), spoke at the public lecture organised by Nigerian Society of Chemical Engineers (FCT-Nasarawa Chapter).

“What it means is that we will not continue to be contracting out the building of our airports, seaports or railways to anyone after one or two constructions, Nigerians must build it themselves,” he said while explaining the benefits of the executive order to Nigerians.

The order signed by President Muhammadu Buhari in February, is expected to promote the application of science, technology and innovation towards achieving the nation’s development goals in all sectors of the economy.  

 “The implementation of this order will guarantee science and technology ambition of Nigeria is achieved such that Nigeria, like other countries, will be able to migrate from a consumer economy to a knowledge based economy utilizing its abundant human and material resources,” he said.

He said the only way to guarantee a sustained economy is by ensuring we moved from depending on prices of commodities to producing what we consume and consume what we produce.

While delivering a paper on ‘Presidential Executive Order for Planning and Execution of Projects: Matters Arising’, the guest speaker, Engr John Erinne said there is need for the executive order to be reviewed and upgraded into a law in due course.

In his welcome remarks, the chapter’s chairman, Engr Onyekachi Onugu, said the country’s drive for infrastructural development can only be actualized if and when the government gave opportunities to Nigerian inventors, manufacturers and professionals to contribute their quota in sectors where they have proven competences and capabilities.