Engineers decry lack of access to capital, flay electricity ‘ Band’ system

THE Nigerian Society of Engineers ( NSE) has bemoaned the lack of access to capital and patronage by the government at various levels.

The 34th President Society of Engineers, Margaret Oguntala, who stated this in Abuja, lauded the Bola Tinubu’s administration for appointing engineers to critical ministries, said the Society is studying the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Fund that was established by the Federal Government to provide funding for the provision of infrastructure.

She said: “It is difficult for Nigerian engineers to coming sector. pete with their foreign On the increment of eleccounterparts because fortricity on consumers on eigners have access to cheap Band A, the NSE explained capital as all as their governthat the process was illments’ support. They also advised and hastened. have access to modern “First, lumping everyone equipment. The Nigerian one a particular feeder or engineers, though qualitransformer into a band is fied, are at a disadvantage not justiciable. There could when compared with their be residential and commerforeign counterparts.” cial entities within the same

The NSE President la uded area. There could be small the government for includapartments and people ing its members in the within the lower rung of the Ajaokuta revival team, say - ladder within the same ing placing attention to the band. How do you deal with resuscitation of the steel these different consumers plant, the Aladja Steel plant within a band? We think as well as other steel rolling that each consumer should plants is critical to the be dealt with on an individrevival of the manufactur- ual basis rather than addressing the rise through band system,” the body said. The NSE called for the deepening of transparency and accountability in the power sector to boost the availability of electricity that is fair to all segments of Nigerian society.

On what the society is doing to encourage girls to embrace engineering and science subjects, Oguntala said the NSE has opened partnerships on a mentor/ mentee scheme that will stimulate the interests of girl- children in V- STEM education, which will ultimately be to the advantage of Nigeria’s rapid technological advancement shortly.