The Polymer Institute of Nigeria (PIN) on Sunday decried the mass importation of polymer into the country.
The institute lamented the huge loss in foreign exchange in a communiqué issued and signed by its National President, Prof. Paul Mamza, at the end of PIN’s 31st Annual Technical Conference.
The conference, held at Jos, Plateau State, had the theme, “Polymer in the extractive industries: Prospects and challenges”.
Polymers are materials made of long, repeating chains of molecules. Polymer is often used to describe plastics, which are synthetic polymers.
Mamza said the high and unregulated importation of polymer could overstretch oil exchange and as well violate the local content for extractive industries.
“Currently, the extractive industry in Nigeria is heavily dependent on the importation of these polymers thereby overstretching the foreign exchange and also violating our local content policy.
“This is in spite of the abundant raw materials and professionals in the field of polymer science, engineering and technology that has the capacity to harness the existing potentials endowed in our dear nation,” he said.
He said that the government should ensure strict compliance to Nigeria’s local content policy in order to curb importation and boost local production.
“This will enhance the prospects of polymer utilization and creates more opportunities in the petroleum and mining industry.
“The public and private sector should collaborate with PIN with a view to harnessing the available human and material resources.
“This will go a long way in addressing the numerous challenges being faced by the extractive industry.
“The utilisation of biodegradable polymers in the extractive industry shall be encouraged as it will provide a better and more economically viable alternative to waste management, thereby mitigating environmental pollution,” he said. (NAN)