The Federal Government of Nigeria has reiterated its commitment to advancing the country’s cassava bioethanol value chain as a key strategy for industrial growth and economic stability.
Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, made the announcement on Wednesday in Abeokuta during a capacity-building workshop for stakeholders in the South-West zone, focused on the Cassava Bioethanol Value Chain Development Project.
Bagudu, represented by the ministry’s Director of Economic Growth, Auwal Mohammed, explained that the initiative is part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at transforming Nigeria’s agricultural strengths into industrial and economic gains.
“Despite being the world’s largest cassava producer, Nigeria has not fully harnessed the crop’s economic potential,” Bagudu said. “As the world transitions towards a greener and more sustainable economy, bioethanol presents a significant opportunity for Nigeria.”
He highlighted that blending bioethanol with Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) could reduce fuel import dependence and save billions of naira in foreign exchange, while stimulating a bio-based economy, strengthening the naira, and integrating millions of smallholder farmers into an expanded industrial value chain.
Bagudu emphasized that the project aligns with Nigeria’s National Bio-Economy Policy, which promotes a circular economy that maximizes the full cassava value chain.
The programme also seeks to unlock value from high-quality starch, carbon dioxide captured during fermentation, and animal feed derived from distillery grains.
Stakeholders were encouraged to leverage the workshop to gain technical expertise in high-yield cassava cultivation and efficient processing methods. “We are not just building factories; we are building a future where Nigeria becomes a global hub for bio-resources,” Bagudu said.
Prof. Olumuyiwa Jayeoba, President of the Association of Deans of Agriculture in Nigerian Universities (ADAN), delivered a presentation on “Nigeria’s Bio-Economy Framework and Cassava Bio-Ethanol,” highlighting the bio-economy as the sustainable use of renewable biological resources, scientific knowledge, and innovation to produce goods, services, and energy.
“Bio-economy has the capacity to bring many people out of poverty, improve energy and food security,” Jayeoba said.
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The initiative follows earlier efforts in 2023, when the Federal Government began sensitizing stakeholders in the North-West on the Cassava Bioethanol Value Chain Project.
The campaign was inaugurated in Kano by Mr. Nebolisa Anako, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Finance, Budget, and National Planning.
The project reflects broader concerns about Africa’s reliance on a narrow set of staple crops.
A recent World Bank report noted that cassava, rice, maize, and wheat account for 45% of total calorie consumption across Africa, with heavy reliance on imports leaving the continent vulnerable to supply disruptions, rising food prices, and climate-related shocks.
The Federal Government’s renewed focus on cassava bioethanol underscores its strategy to harness Nigeria’s agricultural potential, boost local industries, and create jobs while enhancing energy and food security.
