Science & tech can become Nigeria’s cash cow-Onu

Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, has said science and technology can become Nigeria’s next cash cow if adequately deployed. Dr Onu also said the myriad of problems facing the country could be solved by using innovations developed by scientists and other experts, using local technologies. He decried the continued dependence of Nigeria […]

Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, has said science and technology can become Nigeria’s next cash cow if adequately deployed.
Dr Onu also said the myriad of problems facing the country could be solved by using innovations developed by scientists and other experts, using local technologies.
He decried the continued dependence of Nigeria on imported weapons, food and petroleum products when it has abundant raw materials to produce for the security of the nation.
 The minister who spoke with directors of the ministry in Abuja, said with science and technology tailored to the needs of the nation, Nigeria will produce the weapons and equipment required by the military for the defence of the country.
  “We are all witnesses to the problems that our nation had to pass through when we needed weapons to fight insurgents in the north-eastern part of our dear nation. It was difficult even with our own money to buy the weapons.
 “The question is why we should even go to buy weapon from outside. We can manufacture these weapons. We have the men and women; we have the materials that can enable us to manufacture most of the military requirements that we need.
 “India is now in a position to produce most of her military needs. The Defence Industry that we have in Kaduna was established about the same time as the Brazilian did. Today, Brazilians can manufacture even aircraft, ships, and tanks. Ours is going to take a very long time unless our ministry comes in urgently.
 “So our ministry is very important as far as securing the nation is concerned. Also in the area of growing the economy, for too long we have been a consuming nation. We import most of what we need. We have forest; we export wood but we import took pick. This can be very disturbing”, he said.