Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu and the DG in the ministry, Mrs. Lucy Ogbadu cutting the tape at the complex
CHINEDU WOSU, YENAGOA
The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, on Thursday said the newly commissioned Advance Bio Resources Laboratory Complex in Bayelsa State would commence finger printing of crude oil in December 2017.
Onu also said the finger printing of crude oil would help curb the stealing of crude oil in the country, noting that the facilities in the complex would also assist in carrying out geo- mapping and aid medical science researches.
He stated this in Odi Community, Bayelsa state during the official commissioning of the hi tech Bio Resources Laboratory Complex built by the Federal Government.
Dr. Onu said the finger printing of crude oil will reduce the incessant stealing of crude oil in the industry,
‘So that if anybody steals crude oil, we can identify the person with the equipment we have here in Odi, so Nigeria can now do finger printing,’ Onu said,
The Minister said, ‘I have given them the mandate to commence the test on the finger printing of crude oil and geo mapping in the laboratory here in Odi.’
The Laboratory, the Minister said would also improve the researches in medical sciences, and improve our environments for healthy living.
Describing the importance of the Laboratory, Onu said it would help in restoring the near extinct crops in Nigeria such as Coco yam and help in improving yields as researchers from both home and abroad would adequately carry out researches in the complex.
The Minister, who insisted that the Bio Resources Development Centre Laboratory is not only for food production, noted that over 90 percent of Agriculture is Science and Technology based.
According to the Minister, the researches in the Advance Bio resources Laboratory Complex are market driven, the laboratory will accommodate scholars from abroad, Universities, Polytechnics and oil companies across the country.
The facilities, Onu said, are aimed at building capacity, creating jobs, wealth and encouraging skills among young Nigerians and reducing poverty
