By Chuks Oyema-Aziken
Minister of State for Environment, Dr. Iziaq Salako has emphasized need for the control of national infrastructure from corrosion.
The minister stated this at the 2023 Annual National Conference of the Nigerian Corrosion Association (NICA).
The theme of the 2023 conference is “Corrosion Control of Public Infrastructures and Utilities”.
The minister who was represented by Mr Dilichukwu Etigbue, Director Erosion, Flood and Coastal Zone Management Department in the Ministry said the control is key to environmental sustainability.
Salako added that infrastructures and utilities can enhance the livelihoods and life of dignity for the citizenry, irrespective of their characteristics and circumstances.
“Thus, safeguard high quality, integrity, reliability,sustainability and resilience of the critical assets is an obligatory priority for national development planning, for the benefits of the present and future generations.
“It is however disturbing that corrosion has become a world-wide problem and limiting factor for infrastructural development,with disastrous societal and economic consequences.
“Permit me to state that corrosion
is also one of the major legacy challenges facing Petroleum refineries and chemical process Industries globally,” Salako noted.
He said that corrosion is regarded as a pernicious process that degrades useful properties of materials and structures.
Consequently “Impacts dangerous and expensive damage to oil and gas, environmental damage, collapse of social services, burdens of morbidity and mortality, amongst others.
Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola in his speech commended the association for creating awareness on the issue of corrosion.
Oyetola who was represented by Mr Shogo Omotayo Director Engineering in the ministry noted that the government was interested to advance the economy through the issue of corrosion control of public infrastructures and utilities.
“Prevention and control of corrosion cannot be undertaken by government alone,” the Minister said.
Mr Ese Ochoja, NICA president said that there was need for the people to maintain thr cherished government infrastructure at their disposal to prevent corrosion.
He expressed optimism that the conference would yield possible ways to addressing all forms corrosion on public infrastructures and utilities.
