By Thompson ABISOLA
The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), have pledged to collaborate leveraging on their respective expertise, to revive projects critical to the nation’s economic development.
A statement released in Abuja on Thursday by the NNPC Spokesman, Mr Ndu Ughamadu, said the two organisations came to this resolution when the NSE National President, Mr Adekunle Mokuolu, led the leaders of the society on a courtesy visit to the NNPC Group Managing Director, Dr Maikanti Baru.
According to Mokuolu, there is need for NNPC, with its highly competent and experienced engineers and a track record of project delivery, to work closely with the NSE and other stakeholders to salvage important national projects like the Ajaokuta Steel Company which progress has not been encouraging.
He said NNPC and the entire oil industry stood to benefit greatly from the speedy completion of the Ajaokuta Steel Company as it would reduce dependence on imported steel for the manufacture of pipes and other hardware required in the industry.
Mokuolu commended Baru for entrenching transparency and accountability through the regular publication of NNPC’s monthly financial and operation report as well as restoring normalcy to the downstream sector through regular and uninterrupted supply of petroleum products.
In his response, Baru said the development of local content was a national call, adding that the revival of projects like the Ajaokuta Steel Company would go a long way in accelerating and deepening the local content policy.
He said his management placed high premium on accountability and transparency as that was the surest way of averting failure and attracting investment.
