By Julian Osamoto
The Director-General of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Professor Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso, has called for increased investment in local processing and manufacturing to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on raw material exports and imported industrial inputs.
He said the country has vast agricultural, mineral and waste-based resources that could drive industrialisation, create jobs and strengthen economic competitiveness.
Professor Ike-Muonso made the call in a lecture titled Unlocking Nigeria’s Raw Material Value Chain for Industrialisation, Manufacturing and Competitiveness.
He identified 30 major raw material value chains with a combined global market value of 2.65 trillion US dollars as investment opportunities for Nigeria.
The RMRDC boss explained that the manufacturing sector’s contribution to real Gross Domestic Product fell from 9.64 per cent in 2014 to 8.05 per cent in 2025.
He also disclosed that raw material imports rose to 20.5 billion US dollars in 2025, about six times the 2020 level, exposing manufacturers to foreign exchange volatility and higher production costs.
He identified agriculture, solid minerals and industrial waste as major areas for investment.
“Nigeria, produces more than 63 million metric tonnes of cassava annually, but over 80 per cent of agricultural output leaves farms without adequate processing.” he stated
He also identified more than 44 commercially viable minerals across over 500 locations, alongside opportunities in waste recycling and conversion into industrial inputs.
Among the investment opportunities he highlighted are cassava starch, cocoa processing, natural textiles, rubber products, lithium processing, iron and steel production, petrochemicals and battery materials.
He maintained that developing these value chains would reduce reliance on imported industrial inputs and create opportunities for local manufacturers.
Professor Ike-Muonso also identified the proposed 30 per cent Value Addition Bill and the Nigeria Integrated Information Statistical System for Raw Materials and Products (NISSRAMP) as key interventions to promote local processing.
According to him, the initiatives would encourage domestic value addition and provide reliable information on the availability, location and quality of raw materials.
He also called for stronger collaboration among government, research institutions and the private sector to develop viable industrial projects.
The RMRDC boss urged Nigerians in the diaspora and other local and international investors to explore opportunities in processing facilities, mineral refining, agro-industrial parks and manufacturing infrastructure.
In his words , “diaspora investors could contribute technology, technical expertise, international business networks and access to global markets, beyond providing financial capital.”
He maintained that Nigeria’s industrial future depended on its ability to transform raw materials into competitive products rather than rely on the export of unprocessed resources.
