FG inducts 157 mining engineers, geoscientists into extractive industry

• Moves to sanitise sector

From Charity Nwakaudu, Abuja

The federal government, through the Council of Nigerian Mining Engineers and Geoscientists (COMEG), on Thursday, inducted 157 new members into the Extractive Industries .

The Minister of Solid Minerals and Development, Dr Oladele Alake, during the induction ceremony, said training and induction of professionals had become necessary in order to properly identify and register genuine mining engineers with the aim of reducing the incidence of quackery.

Dr Alake said: ”The solid mineral is Nigeria’s huge source of wealth, hence, the need to ensure that professionals only are given operating license in the mining Industry.”

“As from today, no Mining Engineer or Geoscientist will be recognised by the Ministry of Solid Minerals without COMEG registration . If you are not registered, you are quack and all reports that come into the ministry must carry stamp of the COMEG registration.

The Registar, Council Of Nigerian Mining Engineers And Geoscientists, Prof Zachaeus Opafunso, expressed his happiness for another induction for the Mining Engineers who have passed both written and Oral examinations. He added that Online examinations were also organised for members in Diaspora.

The Council of Nigerian Mining Engineers and Geoscientists (COMEG) is a body that is empowered by Federal law to regulate the training of professionals practise as mining engineers and geoscientists.