Engineers worry over import-dominated economy

INDIGENOUS engineers under the auspice of the Nigerian Society of Engineering (NSE) have expressed dismay over the influx of importation of goods into the country.

Besides, the engineers believed that most of the imported products consumed in the country can actually be produced in-country to save the huge capital flight lost to importation.

The Chairman, NSE, Egbin Power plant chapter, Siddiq Olanrewaju, who made this assertion during the engineering week of the branch in Lagos, urged the incoming government to promote engineers in other to increase local production of goods.

Olanrewaju said: “Before this country can achieve the desired growth, we should move from a consuming country to a producing country, so by time we encourage the engineerins they can contribute significantly to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country.”

Noting that engineers in Nigeria are being faced with numerous challenges that bother on policy inconsistency and poor implementation, he urged the incoming government to promote engineering through business friendly policies.

“All developed countries produced locally, consumed and then export some of the products after satisfying their local markets. We also have the potentials in Nigeria, but government policies are not encouraging investment. We need a government that is focused and does not depend on importation,” he stated.

Olanrewaju however urged President-elect Mohammad Buhari to focus on the power sector, for him to achieve some meaningful success.

“We expect them to really focus on power. Without power, there is no how the nation can achieve the level of development we aspire, they should lay a lot of emphasis on electricity supply. In fact, if it is only power the incoming government can achieve, we will all say kudos to them. They should focus on all the electricity value chain, generation, transmission and distribution. By the time we have regular power supply all over the country, a lot of businesses, jobs and other growth opportunities will spring up,” he said