Worried by the increasing risks and hazards associated with fieldworks in Nigeria, experts in the field of geosciences and mining recently gathered at the University of Nigeria (UNN) to brainstorm on safety codes that will make field trips pleasurable for students and researchers.

The two-day event, which started on Tuesday, was said to be largely sponsored by the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development.

In his speech, the Minister, Abubakar Bawa Bwari, lauded the organisers of the conference for the initiative, stating that safety of researchers and officers in the field was a priority of his ministry.

The Minister, who spoke through his designee, Emmanuel Ehlebi, warned that illegal miners faced a higher risk in the field than other field workers because of their lack of training on safety precautions.

“That is why the government has continued to encourage and support the formalisation of Artisanal miners into cooperatives through which proper training are put in place to reduce mishaps in the minefields as mentioned under Enforcement of existing laws in the Road Map,” he said.

He challenged geology departments in Nigerian universities to include safety and health guidelines for fieldwork in their curriculum. He said that his ministry had encouraged the inclusion of courses on safety and precautions in the curriculum of the Nigerian Institute of Mining and Geosciences, Jos.

The Minister called for the review of the national guidelines for safety and health which he said did not adequately address the peculiarity of fieldwork issues in Nigeria.

Prof Silas Dada, the President of Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society noted that the development of fieldwork safety codes for geoscientists and geotourists should be considered more important than the formation of general safety and health guidelines.

Such a code, according to Prof Dada “should be comprehensive to include appropriate behaviour and conduct of geoscientists during fieldwork, roles of the community and governments at all levels; including an enabling bill by the National Assemblies of various countries.”

He added that the code should emphasis adequate hands-on training of geoscientist researchers undertaking fieldworks. The training according to him should focus on the right attitudes which prevents conflicts, respect for local customs and beliefs and prior consultation and permission from land owners.

In his address, UNN Vice-Chancellor, Prof Benjamin Ozumba, described the conference as timely as it would proffer solutions to the security risks faced by geoscientists as a result of terrorism, kidnapping and militancy in the country.

Prof Ozumba, who spoke through the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic, Prof James Ogbonna, said that the risks are fuelled by the absence of codes for conduct of field work by university geosciences departments and inadequate funding of monitoring institutions.

While noting that nothing on fieldwork could be completely safe, the Vice-Chancellor urged the conferee to make every reasonable effort to improve the safety of field officers.

Highpoint of the event was the presentation of a book titled “A code for Geoscientific Fieldwork in Africa: Guidelines on Health and Safety Issues in Mapping, Mineral Exploration, Geoecological Research and Geotourism”. The book was authored by Professor Theophilus Davis, a renowned geologist.

•Photo shows Representative of the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Mr Emmanuel Ehlebi, presenting the address of the Minister at the Conference