The federal government of Nigeria has awarded an oil block licence to Ondo state government for bitumen exploration
The state government
has also signed a memorandum of understanding with an agricultural company for
the planting of rice in over 5,000 hectares of land - Governor Akeredolu
announced that the state has also signed an MoU with ministry of Niger/Delta
and NDDC for the funding of 50km Araromi road in Ilaje LGA of the state to
Ibeju/Lekki, Lagos In efforts to diversify the economy and boost the country’s
foreign exchange, the federal government of Nigeria has awarded an oil block license to Ondo state government for bitumen exploration, given the fact that
the state has the second highest reserve of bitumen in the world. The minister
of Mines and Steels Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi made this known at the 1st
Ondo state Investment Forum held at the International Event Center (DOME),
Akure, the state capital.
The minister who was represented by the director of Mining
License in the ministry, Engr. Mohammed Amate said the bitumen reserve in Ondo
state can serve the whole of Africa hence the federal government’s decision to
explore the opportunity towards economic development of the country. Governor
Akeredolu speaking at the 1st Ondo state Investment Forum held at the
International Event Center (DOME), Akure, the state capital. Photo credit:
Maxwell Adeyemi Adeleye Governor Akeredolu speaking at the 1st Ondo state
Investment Forum held at the International Event Center (DOME), Akure, the
state capital. Photo credit: Maxwell Adeyemi Adeleye “Nigeria currently imports
over 600,000 tons of asphalt per annum and the nation spends billions of naira
on importation of asphalt every year.
The naira is weak now because of much demand for dollar and
less demand for naira and the poor export policy in the country. “With bitumen
being produced in Ondo State, federal Government will ensure that none of its
road contractors imports asphalt and I am sure that many state governments will
prefer to buy from Ondo state because it will definitely be cheaper here than
imports from outside the country,” Fayemi said. In his response, the Ondo state
governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN, appreciated the Buhari led federal
government for the partnership. Consequently, the Investment forum which was
held in conjunction with the Presidential Economic Diversification Initiative
(PEDI) also witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
between the state government and WEMS Agro Ltd for the planting of rice in over
5,000 hectares of land at Akotogbo in Irele Local government area of the state.
“Our coastline which is
about 120km, is one of the longest in Africa and is home to various fish
species like sole snapper, croaker, barracuda, big eye grunter, catfish etc.
This is an unchartered territory to be explored as part of this
administration’s drive towards economy diversification. “Let me announce to
this gathering that Ondo state had been granted two Free Trade Zone (FTZ)
licenses which are Olokola (being oil and gas FTZ in partnership with Ogun
State government) and Ondo State Industrial City (as a non-oil and gas FTZ).
They are both coastal FTZ’s with the Atlantic Ocean
bordering the southern flank. “In addition to Oil and Gas, Ondo state boasts of
possessing one of the largest reserves of Bitumen and Tar Sands in the world;
about 42 billion barrels. Ondo State is also endowed with large deposits of
various solid minerals including Limestone, Coal, Granite, Kaolin, Silica Sand among other minerals. “Whilst attention over the years has been on Oil and
Gas; this Government is willing and ready to exploit its Bitumen reserves in a
sustainable way particularly in the area of providing asphalt for road
development. It is estimated that over 90% of the minerals in Ondo State are
unexploited and unutilized. “Ondo State as one of the nine oil and gas
producing states has abundant oil and gas reserves that remain undeveloped,
even though we produce about 12 % of the daily oil production in the country.
“However, gone are those days that any government will be reliant on oil and
gas alone.
I am happy to inform you that in Ondo State, we are
aggressively driving our non-oil related industries.” He said. The governor
also pointed out that state fed the Western region during the first republic
and he’s poised to bring back the lost glory. “It is no longer news that Ondo
state accounts for over 40% of Nigeria’s annual cocoa output, however we
process less than 2% of our cocoa output. Additionally, Ondo state is also a
major player in other agricultural produce in tree crops such as: oil palm,
rubber, cashew and kolanut; also arable crops such as: cassava, yam, maize,
rice, sugarcane; fruit crops such as: pineapple, citrus, mango, pepper and
tomato are all cultivated in abundance in Ondo State. “Our Special focus is on
our comparative advantage in agriculture, which are palm oil and cocoa. We want
to develop our palm oil to the extent where we have a self-sustaining palm oil
industry. We fed the western region during the first republic and I can assure
you that we will do it again. “Meanwhile, we will not leave out rice production
in Ondo state.
It will interest you to know that our Rice paddies are taken
all the way to Lagos or Kogi by our farmers to be processed because we don’t
have any rice mill in the state. To complement the production effort of the
farmers, the State plans to setup specialized staple Crop Processing Zones
(SCPZ) for these crops to enable investments in the production of finished
products ready for export," Governor Akeredolu said. Governor Akeredolu
also announced to the gathering that his state has signed a MoU with ministry
of Niger/Delta and NDDC for the funding of 50km Araromi road in Ilaje LGA of
the state to Ibeju/Lekki, Lagos aimed towards business development. Dignitaries
at event included the Deputy governor of the state, Hon. Agboola Ajayi, the
Secretary to the State Government, Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde ,the Chief of Staff to
the Governor, Chief Olugbenga Ale; the head of service, Mr. Toyin Akinkuotu, Senior
Special Assistant to the Governor on Investment, Mr. Boye Oyewumi and many
others. Others on the delegation of the Federal were the Minister of Niger
Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Usani, the representative of Minister of Mines and
Steels Development, Egnr. Mohammed Amate, Minister of State for Niger/Delta
Affairs, Professor Cladius Daramola, Senior Special Assistant to the President
on Economic Matters, Mrs Fola Oyeyinka, National Coordinator, Senior Investment
Corporation, Dora Akugbulo, NNPC's Director of Energy, Mr. Isa Abdullahi among
others. Oyebols.com had reported that Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo
appealed to investors to come to his state and do business arguing that Lagos
has a major challenge with traffic congestion and human population. the
Governor Akeredolu saying Lagos is traffic-ridden and human congested.
Akeredolu spoke in Akure, the capital of Ondo, as he hosted
a delegation of federal government industrialization and economic
diversification team. Watch this video of traders complaining about the
Nigerian economy
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