A bill seeking for the creation of a bitumen development commission has been set in motion by Hon. Mayowa Akinfolarin, lawmaker representing Ile-oluji-Okeigbo and Odigbo federal constituency in the House of Representatives
The bill was sponsored by the lawmaker at the floor of the House on the 16th of March 2021.
The bill titled “Bitumen Development Commission of Nigeria (Establishment Bill, 2021(HB. 1254)” was listed for First Reading at the green chamber
The lawmaker who is also a two term member of the house while addressing newsmen in Abuja explained that the purpose of the bill is to institute the formation of a regulatory body, on the issuance of mining license, among other proposed objectives of the commission.
He also stated that the delay experienced in the exploration of bitumen in the state is as a result of the indiscriminate licencing of miners, most of whom lack financial capacity to do the job.
According to him,”Mining license have, before now, been given to miners without proper evaluation of their financial capacity.”
“so our intention is to have a commission, to basically separate capable miners from many who just want the license for the sake of it, amongs other objectives” He added
The Bitumen commission is an addition to other bills early sponsored by the Honourable Akinfolarin, one of which is the National Cocoa Board Bill.