The National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), on Wednesday, said it had intensified efforts toward developing indigenous capacity for bio-fuel production in the country.
The Agency stated this in the report of the 12th National Council on Science and Technology (NCST) meeting, made available to journalists in Abuja.
The report stated that the Agency had made progress toward supporting indigenous industrial capacity for local production of bio-fuels.
It noted that NABDA had successfully constructed local bio-fuel plants and bio-reactor equipment.
“This is in support of the Presidential Initiative on Bio-Fuels and Tropical Fruits,” it said.
The report stated that the Agency had made efforts to partner with other agencies for local design, construction and installation of component parts for bio-ethanol and bio-diesel production.
It also said that the signing of the Bio-Safety Bill into law would ensure the management of bio-safety and related bio-technology activities in the country.
“Nigerians are currently denied the benefits accruable from marketing bio-technology products,” it said.
According to the report, the lack of legislation on bio-safety portends outright denial of the opportunity to reap the benefits from the application of modern biotechnology techniques.
The report stated further that the country would derive more benefits from the signing of the bill into law, including environmental sustainability, employment generation and wealth creation.
(NAN)
