Lagos — Over a hundred million years, bitumen deposit started gathering in some parts of what is now regarded as Nigeria. In Ogun, Edo, and Ondo States of the country, the mineral was discovered around 1900 by the then Nigeria Bitumen Corporation. But what was not determined was the quantity of the deposits. The outbreak of First World War in 1914, coupled with eventual discovery of crude oil in the Niger Delta suppressed further efforts to explore the prospect of bitumen in Nigeria. Lately however, its quantity in Ikale Kingdom in Ondo State has been identified as large enough to sustain road construction in the country and help relieve heavy dependent on crude oil as major exports. More than a decade after, the kingdom is still wondering what fate has befallen their God-given unique brand of mineral.
Chief Donald Oguntimeyin is the president of Ikale Central Organisation for the past seven years. While giving an insight into efforts of the successive governments to kick-start exploitation of the deposit in their major cities, he concluded that the cost involved in harnessing its huge potentials was not considered when blocs were allocated in 2002. According to him, some Nigerian businessmen who got the blocs never meant to begin operation.
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