The Federal Government on Thursday in Abuja said it was intensifying efforts to secure self-reliance by moving from a research-based economy to innovation-driven economic engagements.
Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, the Minister of Science and Technology, said this when he received Mr Gil Dankner, Chairman of Dor Chemical Company, an Israeli-based firm.
The minister stated that the country would ensure that it added value to what it had by closing all technology gaps in the country.
“ We should be more self- reliant and start producing the things that we need as we are the largest population, market and economy in Africa.
“It is the mandate of the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology to redirect the efforts of the nation so that we can start relying on our self and start looking inwards“, he said.
Onu said the ministry would collaborate with Dor Chemical Company and any investor that would come into the country to help boost the economy.
“ The Dia-chemical will be very helpful in this respect as they will do research and produce in Nigeria and also transfer technology into our nation.
“What they are bringing is something new – diversifying sources of fuel in Nigeria by making Nigeria to start moving in the direction that other developed countries are moving.
“ Many countries now make their fuel from methanol but we are not doing so. So, we need to also key in because it is cheaper, it will help us to create job and protect our environment.”
Earlier, Darkner expressed the readiness of his company to partner with the minister to help diversify the sources of fuel in Nigeria from Methanol.
“The methanol is a source of clean energy for transportation, electricity generation.
“From natural gas, you can make methanol which is liquid.
“We see the importance of methanol economy in Nigeria to reduce the cost of energy, create job opportunities and revive Nigerian economy, “ he said.