By Joy Odor
The Bill seeks for the Establishment of Bitumen Development Commission for official regulation of Bitumen exploration, development and exportation has passed first reading in the floor of the Senate.
The bill which was sponsored by Senator Jimoh Ibrahim (APC Ondo South) at the plenary on Thursday posited that intendment of the proposed legislation is to make Bitumen as alternative revenue spinning product in Nigeria being the second highest deposit in the world after Canada.
The Lawmaker, said details of the intendment of the proposed Commission would be made in his lead debate for second reading.
The proposed commission as projected in the draft bill, Jimoh informed should be sited in any of the three towns with high deposit of Bitumen in Ondo State which are Ode – Irele ,Agbabu and Igbotako.
He said the Bitumen Development Commission when established, would also facilitate execution of road infrastructure across the country and also create jobs for Nigerians, particularly Geologists whose expertise would be needed in its exploration.
Jimoh affirmed that if the proposed legislation scales through in both the Senate and the House of Representatives with attendant establishment of Bitumen Development Commission after presidential assent, would be the first law on exploration, development and possibly exportation of Bitumen in Nigeria.
