The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) has urged the federal government to prioritize security in mining areas, emphasizing that it’s impossible to mine without security, as it can lead to kidnapping and killings.
Speaking at the 4th Distinguished Lecture and inauguration of the new executives of the Ilesa branch, in Osun State recently, the President of NSE, Margaret Oguntala, also called for diversification into gold mining and ensure adequate security at mining sites across the country.
Oguntala, who was represented by Oluwaseun Adeyeye, said gold mining has significant potential to positively impact the economy and urged the Federal Government to encourage more people to invest in the sector.
The NSE president highlighted the risks of mining in an insecure environment, warning that such conditions could lead to kidnapping and killings.
She said, “The major challenge that we have in this country is that we normally focus on one business. However, there is a lot of money in gold mining.
“It requires experience and significant capital to execute. Our government should encourage more people to diversify into gold mining.
“In this area of mining, security is crucial. There is no way you can mine in a place if there is no security. Such a situation will lead to kidnapping and a lot of killings in the area.”
Meanwhile, the Chairman of NSE Ilesa branch, Chukwuma Ugah, upon inauguration, urged miners in the State and prospective investors to employ the services of Nigerian engineers.
He promised that his administration would prioritise members’ welfare and professional development.
“We have Nigerian engineers with the know-how, we have people with the experience to do it. People who want to invest in mining should look inward and make use of our engineers.
“We are going to carry everybody along. Everyone’s input is important to ensure that we work together to achieve our goals. Their professional life and professional development are also very important, and that is an area we will also focus on.”
Delivering a lecture titled ‘Engineering and Operations Management in the Mining Industry’, the Deputy General Manager of Segilola Resources Limited, Engr. Olusola Olusomidomo, called for responsible mining to encourage foreign investment in the sector.