Crude oil theft: FG develops indigenous biotechnology centre to detect fingerprints

THE Federal Ministry of Science and Technology has developed an indigenous biotechnology centre that has the capacity to detect fingerprints theft of crude oil products in the Niger Delta region.

Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu said this while inaugurating the Advanced Bio-resources Laboratory and Livestock Feed Milling Complex at Odi in Bayelsa State.

He said that the facility would assist security agents detect and trace stolen crude oil sources in the country.

In a statement signed by Henrietta Okokon for the Deputy Director (DD), Press, a copy of which was made available to Tribune Online in Abuja, on Sunday, Dr Onu said that the laboratory has the capacity to conduct genetic profile of indigenous plants and animals resources with a view to preserving the nation’s rich biodiversity resources.

The minister then called on researchers to focus more on market driven research and development, thereby closing gaps between research institutes, organised private sector and entrepreneurs in the country.

“The Federal Government had seen the disconnect between researchers, the society and the industry and that we have resolved to change the narratives and patterns, as evident today”, he added.

Dr Onu further said that Nigeria has been dependent on foreign concerns for technology, which has placed the country in a disadvantaged economic position this long, and the government has resolved to look inwards and develop local solutions to the peculiar challenges as a nation.

“We are deploying technology as a tool for economic development with emphasis on job and wealth creation to fight hunger and poverty in our country, particularly at a centre such as this in Odi with so much capacity in development in the agricultural sector”, Onu said.

In her welcome address, the Director General/CEO of the laboratory, Professor Lucy Ogbadu stated that the facilities were of world class standards, which called for world-class researches by world-class scientists to key into.

She further called on intelligent, hardworking, innovative and forward-looking scientist to carve a niche for themselves, which could launch them into global stage in the science and technology sector.

She lauded the minister’s resolve in ensuring that the commissioning of the project within a short spate of time became a reality, and appealed for governments’ continuous support for biotechnology, stating that, “This is the only way these research infrastructures can be sustained to deliver products and services to the nation.”

Earlier, Director of the Centre, Mr Josiah Habu noted that the centre was established in 2003 by the National Bio-Resources Development Agency to extend its biotechnology research capacity to the rural areas and explore untapped bio-resourses in our local communities.