RMRDC Lists Potential Revenue Earners For Nigeria

The Director-General, Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Prof Peter Onwualu, says two or three raw materials in Nigeria can generate more revenue than crude oil.

Onwualu said this at the Jathropha Stakeholders Harmonisation Meeting in Abuja on Tuesday.

He said Jathropha and a few other plants such as sugar cane and castor could generate substantial revenue for the country if they were properly harnessed.

“The only problem is that we have invested a lot in oil exploration and we have not invested in the other commodities.

“Jathropha is also one of those commodities and for us to be part of the global phenomenon, we have to look at the entire value chain.’’

According to him, Jathropha is an excellent plant from which bio-diesel can be got.

The director-general commended the Jathropha stakeholders association for working hard to harness the potential of the plant in its quest for an alternative source of energy.

The RMRDC boss stressed that it was the responsibility of the private sector to drive the economy with the government functioning as the facilitator.

He identified the energy sector as the most important sector of the economy, adding that the quest for a viable alternative source of energy, using Jathropha, was a welcome development.

Onwualu said d that the council would continue to support the association and stressed the need to enlighten Nigerians on the importance of the plant.

Earlier, the convener of the meeting, Maj.-Gen. Joseph Omosebi, said that the purpose of the meeting was to harness the efforts of all stakeholders.