Expert Wants FG To Support Indigenous Engineers

A structural engineer, Mr Olatunde Jaiyesimi, has urged the Federal Government to support indigenous engineers for them to be in position to compete with their foreign counterparts.

The Chairman, Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) in Lagos Jaiyesimi, told newsmen in Lagos that indigenous engineers should compete and even surpass the achievements of their foreign counterparts.

He said that the foreign engineers were able to perform well because of the steady financial and material support they received from their home governments.

“What Nigerians should understand is that most of these foreign engineering firms obtain funds from their governments to execute any big contract they have.

“It is obvious that the equipment which the foreign companies use most times are provided by their governments because of the huge amount of money involved in getting them.

“But in Nigeria, some construction equipment are not being used because the companies cannot afford their prices.

“Not many of them have the collateral to enable them obtain loans from the banks.

“What our local engineering companies need is extensive financial support to enable them in acquiring expensive machinery used in construction,” he said.