The Nigerian Government has called on the Organised Private Sector to invest in the production and commercialisation of indigenous technology, to improve the nation’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP.
The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu made this call at the launch of the Disinfection Tunnel developed by the National Space Research and Development Agency, NARSDA, in Abuja the nation’s capital.
Dr. Onu said that the development of the Disinfection Tunnel, is in line with the Ministry’s drive to develop non-pharmaceutical measures to checkmate the spread of Covid-19.
“We have been emphasising the use of non-pharmaceutical measures to really control the spread of Covid-19 in Nigeria,” he stressed.
In line with the economic diversification and job creation programme of the current administration, Dr. Onu urged investors to commercialise the Disinfection Tunnel and make it available to Nigeria and the international markets.
The Minister hailed the innovators and Engineers of NARSDA for locally sourcing materials used in the design and development of the tunnel, adding that ”the tunnel showcases the innovative spirit of Nigerians in the development of Science, Technology and Innovation.”
The Acting Director General of the National Space Research and Development Agency, Dr. Francis Chizea, said that the Disinfection Tunnel would help in domesticating the technology in Nigeria.
He further said that the cost of the tunnel’s production was half the cost of buying or importing such technology from abroad, adding that interested organisations seeking to purchase the Tunnel are assured of one year warranty.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
