By Olasunkanmi Akinlotan
The Raw Materials Research and Development Council of Nigeria, RMRDC says it is working with Nigerian lawmakers to shut Nigeria’s borders against the importation of raw materials that can be locally sourced.
RMRDC said it is pushing this through a bill before the National Assembly that has already scaled its first reading.
The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the RMRDC, Prof Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso, made this known at a one-day interactive session between the council and the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria in Lagos.
Ike-Muonso said the bill when passed, will provide Nigeria with more forex for sourcing raw materials, protect natural resources, and catalyse domestic processing capabilities in the country.
He said, “Today I am pleased to announce several groundbreaking initiatives that will substantially complement and enhance the effectiveness of the MTF, positioning Nigeria as a leader in industrial innovation and self-reliance.
“First, we are making significant strides in policy reform by sponsoring a transformative bill in the National Assembly. This legislation will mandate a minimum of 30 per cent value addition to all raw materials before export. This bold move will protect our natural resources and catalyse domestic processing capabilities, creating jobs and fostering industrial growth. This bill has already gone through the first reading, and we expect it to pass through the next reading, hopefully by next week.”
The RMRDC boss explained that the council arrived at the 30 per cent value addition requirement on raw materials before export following survey and data collected from the ten sectoral groups of MAN.
“The Multi-disciplinary Task Force’s comprehensive survey and data collection across the 10 sectoral groups of MAN provides the crucial foundation for implementing the 30 per cent value addition requirement on raw materials before export. The MTF identifies areas requiring value addition capability enhancement and provides actionable insights for manufacturers to upgrade their processing capabilities through its detailed mapping of industrial capabilities, processing facilities, and technological gaps
“The task force’s findings help pinpoint which sectors require targeted support, technological intervention, or capacity building to achieve the 30% threshold. Furthermore, by documenting current value-addition practices and potential across different industries, the MTF enables RMRDC to develop sector-specific strategies and support mechanisms to help manufacturers meet this new export requirement while enhancing their competitiveness in global markets. This systematic approach ensures that the 30 per cent value addition policy is not just an aspiration but an achievable target backed by data-driven insights and practical implementation strategies,” Ike-Muonso stated.
Speaking earlier during the session, the Director-General of MAN, Segun Ajayi-Kadir, said it was an avenue for “partnerships to implement an international project aimed at improving patronage of made-in-Nigeria products.
“The second stems from the fact that it is a first of its kind, that the leadership of RMRDC is making the process of developing the strategic plan and initiatives of the Council this inclusive. The third is that it is another opportunity to deepen the existing relationship/collaboration between MAN and RMRDC, as it holds enormous potential for upscaling productivity, raw materials development, and utilisation in Nigeria.” (PUNCH)