THE Federal Government has stated that methanol production technology will create more jobs and wealth for Nigerians, saying that the country is more of a gas than an oil nation.
It said the introduction of methanol technology would go a long way in reducing gas flaring.
Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, made this known in Abuja at the second inter-ministerial meeting on the implementation of the National Policy on Methanol Fuel Production Technology.
He enumerated the benefits of methanol technology to the economic diversification programme of the Federal Government.
Dr Onu explained that Nigeria’s enormous gas resources would be converted into useful products through methanol technology, thereby paving the way for other businesses to grow.
He added that the demand for gas by these businesses would tremendously reduce gas flaring.
The minister said that the government had long intended to end gas flaring in Nigeria.
He further said that with methanol, the use of kerosene and firewood for cooking would be reduced to the barest minimum, thereby reducing deforestation.
Dr Onu further said that methanol would also impact positively on transportation, power generation and manufacturing.
The minister further said that methanol is a major raw material in industrial production and would go a long way in boosting the nation’s economy.
Minister of Environment, Dr Muhammad Mahmood Abubakar and Minister of State for Science and Technology, Barrister Mohammed Abdullahi, were present at the meeting with representatives of the Minister of Finance and the Minister of State for Petroleum.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Dr Bello Umar, called on the committee to ensure that thorough work is done to ensure the immediate implementation of the policy for the good of the nation and to boost the revenue drive of government.