By Ajibola Adedoye | Lagos
Nigeria’s long-standing ambition to transform cassava from a subsistence crop into a powerful industrial commodity gained momentum this week as a coalition of stakeholders formally presented a National Cassava Industrialisation and Inclusion Policy (NCIIP) framework to the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development.
The unified policy document — championed by the Nigeria Cassava Industrialisation Group (NCIG) and the Industrial Cassava Stakeholders Association of Nigeria — aims to position cassava as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s industrial economy, reducing dependence on wheat imports and catalysing inclusive industrial growth.
Dr. Tony Bello, Co-Convener of the NCIG, described the submission as “a national roadmap for food sovereignty and industrial resilience.”
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According to Bello, the framework supports the High-Quality Cassava Flour (HQCF) Mandatory Inclusion Bill, 2022 (SB 923), which seeks to enforce the use of locally produced cassava flour in composite flour blends used for bread, pastries, and industrial food manufacturing.
“Cassava represents the bridge between agriculture, manufacturing, and trade — powering new industries, jobs, and markets for Nigeria and the Diaspora,” Bello said.
If implemented, the NCIIP could save Nigeria over ₦250 billion annually in wheat import costs, create 1.2 million new jobs, and strengthen local value chains through innovation and regional market expansion.
The NCIIP was developed through a coalition of public and private sector actors, uniting government agencies, financial institutions, researchers, and agribusiness players under a single vision.
A key recommendation within the framework is the establishment of the Nigeria Cassava Industrialisation Council (NCIC) — a national coordinating body proposed to be co-chaired by the Vice President and the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security.
“The NCIC will harmonise government action with private sector and development finance institutions such as the BOA, BOI, NIRSAL, AfDB, IsDB, and Afreximbank,” Bello explained.
The Council would serve as a central platform for driving cassava’s integration into manufacturing, food processing, and export markets — a move industry experts say could unlock billions in agro-industrial investment.
Bello noted that the NCIIP builds on two decades of research and technical innovation, linking Nigeria’s agricultural research institutes, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), and food manufacturers across local and global markets.
“Our partnerships with OEMs and food companies are fast-tracking technology transfer and industrial innovation,” he said. “We are demonstrating that Africa’s food systems can be modern, competitive, and globally relevant — powered by local ingenuity and Diaspora investment.”
The coalition called on the National Assembly to adopt the NCIC framework as part of Senate Bill 923, institutionalising collaboration among the Ministries of Agriculture and Food Security, Industry, Trade and Investment, and Health and Social Welfare.
They also proposed the creation of a Cassava Industrialisation and Innovation Facility (CIIF) to support research, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and market readiness.
Equally important, Bello emphasised the need for quality assurance, transparency, and traceability through regulatory agencies such as SON, NiNAS, and NAFDAC, to ensure Nigerian cassava-derived products meet both domestic and international standards.
“Industrialisation cannot thrive without standards,” Bello stressed. “Our goal is to ensure Nigerian cassava products are globally competitive and fully traceable — from farm to factory.”
Analysts say the unified cassava industrialisation framework marks a turning point in Nigeria’s agricultural policy, potentially shifting the sector from subsistence to sustainability — and from dependency to dominance.
With cassava already being one of Nigeria’s most widely cultivated crops, the framework offers a blueprint to turn it into an engine for industrial growth, job creation, and foreign exchange savings.
As Bello concluded,
“This is not just about food — it’s about national resilience. Cassava is Nigeria’s pathway to agro-industrial transformation.”
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