The Federal government has expressed its readiness to support the Council for Nigerian Mining Engineers and Geoscientists (COMEG) to ensure that it is re-positioned to function and discharge its mandate of regulating, controlling and enforcing the provisions of the laws and regulations guiding mineral exploration and exploitation effectively in the country.
The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Arc. Olamilekan Adegbite declared this while speaking as the Chief Guest of Honour at COMEG’s 9th Induction Ceremony held in Abuja on Tuesday for 563 new entrants into the profession.
He said the ministry under my leadership will continue to support the council with policy and guidance and all ways possible to ensure that COMEG functions properly and discharges its responsibility of regulating, controlling and enforcing the provisions of the laws and regulations guiding mineral exploration and exploitation.
“To this end, I have directed that a substantive Registrar be appointed as soon as possible. When this is done, I will also ensure that COMEG gets a befitting office accommodation to carry out its operations.
“In other words, what I am saying in essence is that the Council will be re-positioned and rejuvenated for growth and effective service delivery,” he said.
Congratulating all the inductees, the Minister told them that their registration with the council requires that they live up to the expectation of COMEG professional code of conduct and ethics in order to sustain the standard of practice in the Nigerian Extractive Industry.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Chairman of COMEG, Dr Ebimotimi Okpoi said in view of the renewed interest and support of the present administration, effort will be intensified towards registering more professionals and cooperate bodies to ensure that quackery in the extractive industry is curbed and eventually eliminated in the country, adding “it cannot be business as usual”.
On his part, the Guest Speaker, Prof. Shedrack Jatau harped on the need for COMEG to ensure that code of conduct for members are well established and followed, adding that it is pertinent to instill a high level of discipline in the professionals for for growth.
The high point of the event was the taking of Oath of Allegiance and presentation of certificates to the inductees moderated by the Vice Chairman, COMEG and President, Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS), Engr Obadiah Nkom who is also the DG, Mining Cadastre Office (MCO).
By this induction which is happening 5 years after the last one, 563 members were registered as professionals in addition to the 2188 members on ground, bringing the total number of extractive industry professionals in the country to 2,751, while 86 companies were registered as corporate members in addition to the 84 on ground, giving a total of 166 corporate organisations at the moment.
Also in attendance at the event were the Minister of State, Mines and Steel Development, Uchechukwu Ogah, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Mines and Steel, Dr Abdulkadir Mu’azu; Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola (represented) among others.
