Partners for Legislative Agenda (PLAN), a civil society organisation, has thrown its weight behind a bill that seeks to establish the National Research Institute for Chemical Technology, saying it will increase the value chain in the oil and gas sector especially in the area of petrochemicals.
The CSO in a press release signed by its National Coordinator, Mallam Khalifa Adamu Bello and made available to journalists in Abuja, described the bill as timely, bearing in mind the discovery of more oil fields in northern Nigeria and the drive for internal refining of petroleum as well as the innovations in renewable energy across the country.
The bill, which was sponsored by Hon. Musa Dacchung Bagos, member representing Jos South and Jos East, seeks to amongst other things, advance chemical research in the country as a vehicle for stimulating industrial growth and reducing our dependence on imported chemicals and derivatives.
The proposed institute touted to having potentials to increasing the value chain in the oil and gas sector especially in the area of petrochemicals is to be located in Zaria – Kaduna State.
While commending the National Assembly, especially the House of Representatives under the speakership of Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila for being pro-people and highly progressive, the CSO called for speedy passage of the Bill.
It is without doubt that the leadership of the National Assembly especially that of the House of Representatives ably led by Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila as Speaker, has been a pro- people’s assembly that has always initiated and passed bills with monumental impacts on individual welfare and advancement.
“This Bill is timely bearing in mind the discovery of more oil fields in northern Nigeria and the drive for internal refining of petroleum as well as the innovations in renewable energy across the country. The Bill, will therefore increase the value chain in the oil and gas sector especially in the area of petrochemicals.
“The research institute which the bill seeks to establish will provide a globally competitive and environmentally friendly research and innovation in the processing and conversion of indigenous raw materials into valuable chemicals and the optimal utilisation of petrochemical products for the development of chemical, biochemical and artificial fibre technologies for industrial applications in Nigeria. The worrisome trend where Nigeria imports even plastics will soon be a thing of the past,” the statement added.
