My Engineers Blog

The Federal Government says it will ensure that it uses science, technology, engineering, research and innovation to make Nigeria a great country. The Minister for Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, said this when he featured on the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja. Onu said that the President Muhammadu Buhari administration would work hard to avoid repeating the mistakes of past governments, which neglected science, technology, research, engineering and innovation. “We have made a lot of mistakes as a nation by not according science and technology its rightful place in the development of our country. “Every administration since independence has been talking about one form of revolution for agriculture, but it has not worked because they don’t pay attention to science and technology. “Now they say young people should go to the farm. “No young person has gone (to the farm) because the labour intensity in farming is heavy. “So, it is only science and t

Eager for more appreciable growth in the telecommunication sector of the country, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, has charged stakeholders to seriously look at actions taken in the past with the intent of not only learning from them but also devising new and better ways to attaining progress. Speaking at the opening of stakeholders’ conference on telecommunications industry organised by the Bells University of Technology, Ota, in partnership with Nigerian Society of Engineers and LM Ericsson Nigeria, Obasanjo said since communication plays a vital role in social relations, telecommunications must be made to enhance human existence. He recalled that at independence in 1960, there were only 18,724 functional telephone lines for an estimated population of 45 million people, adding that between 1960 and 2000, active subscribers base grew to 400,000 fixed lines for the then estimated 120 million population, despite government monopolistic operations, poor, inefficient and frustr

The lunar crescent of Ramadan is expected to appear around sunset on Sunday, June 5, 2016, the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) has said. But in Islam, Muslims can only begin the compulsory fasting after the crescent of Ramadan, the ninth lunar month, has been sighted with naked eyes by at least one trustworthy Muslim. The Nigerian space agency in a statement Thursday said the first astronomical lunar crescent will appear between 5:12pm and 7:33pm on June 5 with Kaduna and Sokoto being the first to witness it while it will be sighted lastly in Jos between 6:02pm and 7:14pm. “All other states of the federation will experience the first lunar crescent between the estimated time of 5:12pm and 7:37pm on 5th June, 2016”, the statement, which was signed by NASRDA’s head of media and corporate communications Dr Felix Ale, said. Source: Daily Trust

The Nigerian Institution of Mechanical Engineers which to her Lagos Chapter 2016 Public lecture as scheduled below Date: Friday June 3, 2016 Time: 11.00am  Venue: De Renaissance Hotel, Obafemi Awolowo Way, Ikeja. Theme: Sorting the National GDP through Automotive, Manufacturing, Sales and Management Guest Spread: Engr Wilson Alli, FNSE, FNIMechE  Admission is Free. Pls be punctual.

Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) has raised an alarm, saying the present state of the nation’s infrastructure is a threat to public safety. The president, Otis Anyaeji, who disclosed this in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, at different fora, said latest surveys conducted by the Society had rated Nigeria’s public infrastructure at ‘E2,’ meaning a score of 2.08 out of 5. “This means that the present condition of our national infrastructure across all sectors is a threat to public safety,” Anyaeji said. He said the study was based on input of materials and expertise into infrastructural facilities executed in Nigeria within the period under review. Anyaeji, a fellow of both the Nigerian and African Societies of Engineering, said the NSE had tabled this finding to the Federal Ministry of Budget and National Planning and promised to continue to undertake this initiative on a biannual basis, independent of government funding. The president talked about efforts in getting the relev

SIR: That above was an appeal made by the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) at a meeting with contractors handling federal road projects preparatory to their remobilisation to their respective sites for the completion of the various abandoned road construction/rehabilitation projects that dot the nation’s landscape. This report was monitored on the 9pm NTA news on Monday May 16. This appeal by Fashola to contractors calls for serious concern from Nigerians. If this has been the practice with road construction prior to the government of CHANGE, it should be changed forthwith. It is not the duty of contractors to ensure standards. It is the duty of contractors to make maximum profits and any means, including underhand dealings, is fair to them in the attainment of this aim. It is however the duty of the project owner – the federal government in this case – to ensure that infrastructure projects are executed in compliance with approved design and sta

The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) have revealed its intention to establish an Accreditation Bureau that would review and recommend curriculum development, training and accreditation issues in engineering faculties across universities and other technical institutes. In a communique issued by NSE at the end of its Council meeting in Abuja, the engineers noted that it would also set up Cost Indices/Infrastructural Scorecard Bureau that would constantly review rates of engineering materials for project estimates. It also called on the federal government to establish a Railway Research and Development Institute synonymous with the Korean Rail Research Institute or the Chinese Academy of Railway Sciences to organize training, capacity building, research and development for the railway sector. They further requested that the institute should operate independently adding that the Nigerian Railway Authority Bill proposed by the executive which made ample provisions for private s

The National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) said on Saturday it would stand strongly in support of the federal government’s resolve to fully deregulate the downstream sector of the Nigerian oil and gas industry. The declaration of support by the aircraft pilots and engineers came barely few hours after the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC; Trade Union Congress, TUC and their affiliates and allies in the civil society issued a 96-hour ultimatum to government to rescind the decision or face the wrath of their members. NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, told reporters in Abuja that the policy, which resulted in the hike in petrol price from N86.50 per litre to N145, was rejected because it was “unrealistic, unaffordable, and unacceptable.” But, NAAPE, in a contrasting opinion, described the deregulation policy as a step in the right direction, pointing out that although it was long overdue, it was better late than never. National President

It was always going to be a tough call, but somebody has to make it. At last, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, the Group Managing Director of NNPC and Minister of State for Petroleum has plucked up courage to do it. He has halted what has been a bogus subsidy on petrol as a major step in a guided deregulation. He did not act alone. He got the consent of President Muhammadu Buhari. The removal of subsidy was a volt-face on the part of Mr. President who had earlier voiced a sentiment to the contrary.  But the deal has been done now. Kachikwu has pressed the button, and it’s all for good. Truth be told, the subsidy that has subsisted in the nation’s oil and gas sector was a huge fraud; a joke taken too far. And it was not new. Right from the military era of Ibrahim Babangida, successive Nigerian governments had tried to remove the so-called subsidy but failed. They were resisted by the masses who ought to be the direct beneficiaries of the subsidy but who never profited from it. It was therefore a r

The Lagos Branch Chairman of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Mr. Oludayo Oluyemi, has called on the three tiers of government, particularly the Federal Government, to patronise indigenous engineers in the planning and execution of all development projects in the country. Oluyemi, who spoke at the branch’s 2016 public lecture and induction ceremony, said this would help to grow the profession and the economy at large. “They should patronise technically qualified Nigerian engineers who are contractors and consultants,” he said. He also urged the government to look into the areas of job creation, security, education, agriculture, health and development of infrastructure. The Country Managing Partner of Celmeng Group of Companies Limited, Dr.Folu Olusanya, who gave the lecture, called on engineers in the country to embrace the change sweeping through the profession globally. According to Olusanya, who is a Fellow of the NSE and spoke on ‘Entrepreneurship and str

Engr Oliver Anyaeji is the 30th President of Nigeria Society of Engineers. In this interview with Chika Okeke of Leadership, he lambasted the three tiers of government for sidelining engineers in policy making, a situation he attributes to persistent failures of the government. Absence of infrastructure especially at the Satellite towns is one of the major challenges to economic development. How do you think government can resolve these problems? The infrastructure challenges are made by us by not following the master plan for the development of Abuja. You will realize that the number of people living in Abuja is increasing daily than what was projected in the master plan, so it’s been a problem. When you begin to say that you want to restore the master plan by pruning down the number of people living in these areas, it becomes a very serious challenge. The infrastructure challenges are made by us by not following the master plan for the development of Abuja. Despi

Former interns give advice and share best practices for getting the most out of your oil and gas internships. Historically, internships have been an essential part of job training which prepared students for careers in various industries. And today, with the competitive job market and distressed oil and gas industry, internships are even more vital to aspiring energy professionals. Philip RowsellPhilip Rowsell, Assistant Surveyor, Lloyd’s RegisterAssistant Surveyor, Lloyd’s Register Phoebe Heard, senior recruiter for Oceaneering International Inc., said her ideal internship candidate is someone who speaks well, is able to sell themselves and has some experience. At the same time, she understands that many interns simply don’t have experience yet. “We’ve hired some fresh interns who had never completed an internship before,” Heard told Rigzone. “We want to see that you’ve started working in jobs related to the field you’re going into or been involved with student or campus or

The National Chairman, of the Nigerian Institution Aeronautical Engineers, a Division of Nigerian Society of Engineers, Engr Bola Bido, decrying the high rate of the ageing workforce in the aviation sector, observed that it has remained a source of worry to the Institution . He urged stakeholders and various state governments across the country to embark on the training of aeronautical engineers in aviation colleges to replace the old ones and charged engineers to brace up for greater challenges ahead. He said, “The aeronautic engineering profession should bring out its best during an economic downturn by sustaining the critical aviation infrastructure with minimal resources. This call to the government and private sector to make deliberate input in training aviation labour became even more necessary as a result of the present dwindling economic activities in the country. On our part, I want to challenge engineers in the aviation sector not to rest on their oars as there i

Being the text of a keynote speech delivered by the Honourable Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, at the African Alliances 2016, Investor Day held at the Eko Hotel & Suites on Thursday 5th May, 2016 Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, There are many ways to approach the discussion of how to renew finance and maintain our infrastructure. However, at an Investor’s dinner, when we approach the first year anniversary of a new Government, I choose to approach the subject from opportunities rather than challenges. Of course I will discuss challenges, but in doing so, it will be with a view to highlighting opportunities because that indeed is what investors are usually, if not always, looking for. I believe that the critical word in my speech is the adjective “sustainable”. It comes from the verb “sustain” which means to “maintain” to “preserve” or to “perpetuate and continue” a thing or an activity. We are at the point where we have built pow