By Abdulrahman Abdullahi
The Federal Government has been called upon to make haste in exploring the country’s bitumen as Nigeria is the second largest bitumen deposit in the world.
The call was made by two building engineers, Professor Martin Dada, Department of Building, University of Lagos (Unilag.) And Mr. Augustine Anthonio, deputy director of the Lagos State Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources who spoke on Thursday in separate interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
According to Dada, Nigeria has the second largest deposit in the world, but struggles with inadequate road development.
He said Nigeria’s huge untapped bitumen, if explored, would help close the country’s huge infrastructure gap and boost foreign revenue from the export of the mineral deposit and its derivatives.
“Ondo State has reported a deposit of approximately 42.47 billion tonnes of bitumen yet to be explored.” He said.
Meanwhile, Anthonio lamented the neglect of the country’s huge bitumen deposits, which he said are capable of turning around the country’s economy.
He urges both Lagos State and Federal Government to engage in exploration of bitumen massively.
He added that the country’s engineers have a vital role to play in exploring the tar sands and other untapped minerals in the country.