Nigeria is yet to harness the potential for revenue generation in the $110 billion global bitumen market, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim said in Abuja at a one-day public hearing on a bill for establishment of Bitumen Development Commission.
The public hearing was organised by the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals Development.
Ibrahim, who sponsored the bill said there was an urgent need for Nigeria to tap into the 110billion dollars global bitumen market to shore up its revenue profile, increase its GDP for prosperity of the nation.
Ibrahim decried that Nigeria with the highest deposit of bitumen after Canada and Venezuela,was yet to tap into the 110billion dollars global bitumen market due to lack of required legal framework.
The 110billion dollars bitumen global market according to him, is currently being controlled by nine countries in the world.
He said some of the countries have less quantities of the natural resources when compared to Nigeria .
According to him, Ondo state has the highest deposit of bitumen in Africa with an estimated value of 42billion dollars.
” Earnings from bitumen deposit in Nigeria ,if properly harnessed,can finance Nigeria’s budget”,he said.
He said that the global bitumen and heavy oil resources are estimated to be 5.9 trillion barrels (937 billion m3)adding that more than 80 per cent of the resources are found in Canada, the US, Nigeria, Venezuela.
He said the global bitumen market was valued at 107.12 billion dollars in 2023 and is projected to reach 146.58 billion dollars by 2030 .
He listed the United States, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, Russia, Poland,China, Japan, India, Malaysia, Columbia and Mexico as key players in the sector.
“Bitumen Development Commission of Nigeria will lead innovation and improved strategy of finance resource.
“A good case of the impressive alternative revenue for Nigeria.
Chairman of the Committee, ,Sen. Ekong Samson said Nigeria required a legal framework to develop her mineral industry to expand her earning and contribute greatly to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and provide opportunities .
He commended the sponsor of the bill for his passion in the development of the solid mineral sector and bringing to the limelight the vast deposits of bitumen in Ondo State and other states like Edo, Ogun, Akwa Ibom and Lagos states.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some of the stakeholders that made presentation on the bill supported establishment of Bitumen Development Commission, while some called for modification on some sections of the bill.(NAN)
