A coalition of cassava stakeholders has submitted a policy framework to the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development aimed at advancing cassava as a strategic industrial crop in Nigeria.
This was contained in a statement issued on Sunday in Lagos by Dr. Tony Bello, Co-Convener of the Nigeria Cassava Industrialisation Group (NCIG).
Bello said the coalition comprised the NCIG, the Industrial Cassava Stakeholders Association of Nigeria, and other related groups.
He explained that the unified National Cassava Industrialisation and Inclusion Policy (NCIIP) framework supports the High-Quality Cassava Flour Mandatory Inclusion in Composite Flour Production Bill, 2022 (SB 923).
According to him, the framework, submitted to the Senate Committee, brings together key public and private sector actors to promote cassava as a strategic industrial crop.
Bello said that if fully implemented, the framework could save Nigeria over ₦250 billion annually in wheat import costs.
He added that it could also create more than 1.2 million jobs, drive inclusive industrial growth, and enhance local value addition and regional market expansion.
“The NCIIP proposes the establishment of the Nigeria Cassava Industrialisation Council (NCIC), to be co-chaired by the Vice President of Nigeria and the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security.
This will serve as a central platform for coordinating national action on cassava industrialisation,” Bello said.
He noted that the NCIC would harmonise government efforts with those of private-sector stakeholders and development finance institutions, including the Bank of Agriculture (BOA), Bank of Industry (BOI), NIRSAL Plc, African Development Bank (AfDB), Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), and Afreximbank.
Describing the policy submission as “a national roadmap for food sovereignty and industrial resilience,” Bello said cassava represents a bridge between agriculture, manufacturing, and trade — driving new industries, jobs, and markets for Nigeria and the Diaspora.
He noted that the NCIIP builds on over two decades of research and innovation, linking research institutions, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), industrial ingredient producers, and food manufacturers across Nigeria and the global Diaspora.
“Our partnerships with OEMs and food manufacturers are accelerating technology transfer and innovation at the national level.
We are proving that Africa’s food systems can be modern, globally competitive, and driven by local ingenuity and Diaspora investment,” he said.
Bello said the coalition urged the National Assembly to adopt the NCIC framework within Senate Bill 923 and institutionalise inter-ministerial collaboration among the Ministries of Agriculture and Food Security, Industry, Trade and Investment, and Health and Social Welfare.
He added that the coalition also proposed the establishment of the Cassava Industrialisation and Innovation Facility (CIIF) to support research, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and market readiness.
Bello further emphasised the need for quality assurance, transparency, and traceability through regulatory agencies such as the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), NiNAS, and NAFDAC, to ensure Nigerian cassava products meet both domestic and export standards.
