The Federal Government has announced Nigeria's ambitious plan to achieve global leadership in cassava production, leveraging its current output of over 62 million tonnes to build a sustainable, technology-driven cassava industry across Africa.
Cassava as Economic Pillar
Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr Kingsley Udeh, revealed this strategic direction during the 2nd Africa Cassava Conference (ACC 2025) held in Abuja. The conference, themed "Building Sustainable and Quality-Driven Cassava Industries in Africa," brought together continental stakeholders to strengthen collaboration on cassava industrialisation.
Dr Udeh emphasized that cassava has been firmly established as a central pillar of Nigeria's non-oil economic transformation agenda. This alignment follows the National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy and Presidential Executive Order No. 5, creating a robust framework for agricultural innovation.
"Nigeria, currently the world's largest cassava producer with more than 62 million tonnes recorded in 2023, was ready to lead Africa in deploying technology to unlock the cassava economy and innovation to dominate global cassava value chains," the minister declared.
Government's Comprehensive Strategy
The Federal Government plans to continue collaborating with research institutions, farmers, processors, and investors to scale high-yield cassava varieties and enhance overall productivity across the sector. Significant efforts will focus on reducing post-harvest losses and deepening value addition into products such as:
- Starch derivatives
- Bioplastics
- Ethanol
- Fortified foods
Dr Udeh also called for stronger collaboration among African governments to develop a unified research and technology framework that can transform cassava value chains continent-wide.
In his supporting remarks, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu, described the conference as timely, saying it provided a clear pathway for countries seeking employment creation and inclusive growth. He highlighted ongoing government efforts to strengthen the cassava ecosystem and emphasized the importance of research and improved agronomic practices in boosting yields.
Massive Wheat Production Initiative
In a related agricultural development, the Federal Government has announced plans to generate an estimated N160 billion from wheat production in the 2025/2026 dry season. This initiative forms part of broader efforts to strengthen food sovereignty and significantly reduce wheat import dependence.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, made this announcement in Jere, Borno State, during the flag-off of subsidised input distribution under the National Agricultural Growth and Agro-Pocket Project (NAGS-AP) for the new wheat season.
Kyari detailed that the government has earmarked 40,000 hectares and registered 80,000 farmers nationwide for the programme, which is expected to deliver wheat valued at N160 billion by the end of the season. Borno State will play a major role in this initiative, with 3,000 hectares allocated and 6,000 farmers registered.
The minister highlighted that this year's programme builds on the impressive gains of previous dry-season initiatives:
- 2023/2024 season: 107,429 farmers supported, generating N474.6 billion in output
- 2024/2025 season: 279,297 farmers supported, with output valued at N893.7 billion
For the 2025/2026 programme, the government will prioritize productivity by strengthening input delivery and ensuring that only certified and traceable seeds, fertilizer blends, and crop protection products reach farmers.
These dual initiatives in cassava and wheat production demonstrate Nigeria's comprehensive approach to agricultural transformation, positioning the country as a emerging leader in continental food security and agricultural innovation.
