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A coalition of cassava stakeholders say they have submitted a policy framework to the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Development to advance cassava as a strategic industrial crop projected to save Nigeria over N250 billion annually in wheat import costs. This is contained in a statement signed by Co-Convener, the Nigeria Cassava Industrialisation Group (NCIG), Dr Tony Bello, in Lagos. Bello said the coalition included the NCIG and the Industrial Cassava Stakeholders Association of Nigeria, among others. He said the unified National Cassava Industrialisation and Inclusion Policy (NCIIP) framework supported High-Quality Cassava Flour mandatory inclusion in composite flour production Bill, 2022 (SB 923). The Co-Coverner said the policy handed over to the Senate Committee brought together key public and private sector actors to advance cassava as a strategic industrial crop. Apart from saving the country over ₦N50 billion annually in wheat import costs, he said the policy will bring other benefits such as the creation of more than 1.2 million jobs, and stimulation of inclusive industrial growth through innovation, local value addition and regional market expansion. “The NCIIP proposes the establishment of the NCIC to be co-chaired by the Vice President of Nigeria and the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security. This will serve as the central platform for coordinating national action on cassava industrialisation,” he said. He noted that the NCIC would harmonise government efforts with those of the private-sector and development finance institutions. READ ALSO: Enablers of Kanu self-destructive behaviour Bello listed the institutions as including the Bank of Agriculture (BoA), Bank of Industry (BoI), NIRSAL PLC, the African Development Bank (AfDB), Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), and Afriexim Bank . He described the submission as “a national roadmap for food sovereignty and industrial resilience.” “Cassava represents the bridge between agriculture, manufacturing, and trade — powering new industries, jobs and markets for Nigeria and the Diaspora,” Bello said. According to him, the NCIIP builds on more than two decades of technical research and collaborative innovation, connecting research institutions and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). He added that the NCIIP also connected 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. The coalition, Bello said, urged the National Assembly to adopt the NCIC framework within Senate Bill 923. He added that they also urged the Assembly to institutionalise inter-ministerial collaboration among the Ministries of Agriculture and Food Security, Industry, Trade and Investment, and Health and Social Welfare. The NCIG co-convener explained that they also seek to establish the Cassava Industrialisation and Innovation Facility (CIIF) to support research, SMEs, and market readiness. He noted that the coalition also emphasised the need for quality assurance, transparency, and traceability through regulatory bodies such as the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), NiNAS, and NAFDAC. According to him, this will ensure that Nigerian cassava products meet both domestic and export standards.
