Samuel Edu

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As power supply by the Benin Electricity Distribution Company, BEDC, is steadily worsening, forcing many industries to collapse, experts in the field of Engineering have called for a stronger synergy and partnership between industrialists and the academia in order to rescue the situation.

They noted that the BEDC ineptitude and the current diesel price have hindered survival of industries and as well compounded Nigerians’ sufferings.

 The Engineers posited that the nation’s varsities have the intellectuals that can end the crisis but need industries to sponsor research on alternatives and help rescue “the already sinking Nigeria ship.”

Those who spoke with The Hope include; Prof. Bamitale Oluyemi-Ayibiowu, Prof. Olumide Aiyewalehinmi, Prof. Olufikayo Aderinlewo and Prof. Catherine Ikumapayi all from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Akure.

Prof. Oluyemi-Ayibiowu said the problem plaguing Nigeria transcends the industrial sector, noting that it cuts across all sectors. The don stressed that the key solution is improving the town and gown relationship.

“It is time for industries to effectively partner the academia in bringing a lasting solution to our predicaments. Lot of researches are going on across Nigerian Universities.

“Some products can be researched into to be an alternative to diesel, petrol or kerosene. The industry can come in by funding and sponsoring some of these researches and this will go a long way to improve the economy.

Prof. Aiyewalehinmi said Nigerians are wasting time waiting for government that has ran out of ideas to do everything.

“The major problem of this country is lack of willingness on the part of the government.

Prof. Olufikayo Aderinlewo said “with good governance, everything will fall in place and all the predicaments plaguing Nigeria as a nation will become a thing of the past.

“If we have the square pegs in the square holes and the round pegs in the round holes, things will fall in line. All we need as a nation is people that know what to do at the helm of affairs

“Until we have people that have the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians at heart, we may never get it right as a nation. The fact remains that the industries are at the receiving end of these crises. Most of them are folding up while some and relieving many of their workers their duties.

Prof. Ikumapayi, said “as a Civil Engineer, I need no one to tell me that the industry is at the receiving end of this hardship. A six inches cement block is sold for N300 before and since there is an increase in the cost of production, definitely selling price will be reviewed.

“It is a big problem for contractors and other stakeholders. The only panacea is for government to be proactive and make our refineries functional. It is quite unfortunate that those who started refineries before us have them fully functional.

 The government should as well ensure that there is uniformity in the price of petrol, by doing this, our industries will be saved.”