The Federal Government has announced ambitious plans to revolutionize Nigeria's cassava sector by shifting from raw material exports to high-value industrial production. This strategic move aims to capture more economic value from the country's position as the world's largest cassava producer.
Government's Cassava Transformation Agenda
Speaking at the 2nd African Cassava Conference 2025 in Abuja, Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume revealed that a comprehensive policy is underway to convert cassava into premium industrial and export products. Represented by Okokon Okon Etoabasi, Akume emphasized that cassava will play a pivotal role in Nigeria's industrialization drive under the current administration.
Nigeria currently produces over 62 million tonnes of cassava annually, making it the global leader in production. However, the country exports most of this bounty as raw material to manufacturing hubs in Europe, Asia, and the Americas, missing out on significant value addition opportunities.
Addressing Value Chain Deficiencies
The conference highlighted critical challenges facing Africa's cassava sector, including low productivity, post-harvest losses, limited processing capacity, and weak quality standards. These factors have prevented Nigeria and other African nations from maximizing the crop's economic potential.
Echoing these concerns, Prof. Pierre Demien Habumuremyi, former Prime Minister of Rwanda and Continental Chair of the Pan-African Alliance of Small and Medium Industries (PAOSMI), warned that Africa's cassava sector will remain underdeveloped without substantial investment in value addition.
"Cassava sustains millions of households, but its full promise remains largely untouched," Habumuremyi stated. "The industrial uses of cassava can be seen in the production of starch, ethanol, pharmaceuticals, biodegradable materials and animal feed, yet our value addition remains minimal."
Technology-Driven Transformation
Dr. Kingsley Udeh, Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, emphasized that Nigeria's contribution to the cassava value chain should extend beyond commodities to include technology and precision agriculture. He identified several technological solutions essential for improving competitiveness:
- Biotechnology for enhanced crop varieties
- Precision agriculture for optimized farming
- AI-driven crop monitoring systems
- Advanced processing technologies
"Tools such as AI-based crop monitoring, biotechnology, precision agriculture and advanced processing technologies are now essential for global competitiveness," Udeh asserted.
The government plans to scale up support for agribusiness and small-scale cassava farmers, recognizing their crucial role in achieving both food security and industrial growth. This support will focus on expanding cassava processing into products such as starch, ethanol, flour, and animal feed through targeted manufacturing initiatives.
The urgency of this transformation is underscored by recent reports of cassava farmers recording heavy losses due to supply surplus and low demand, exacerbated by competition from cheaper imported alternatives like duty-free corn starch.
