FG to reduce wheat importation

By Omotayo Edubi

The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, had revealed the Federal Government’s (FG) plans to introduce means to reduce wheat importation into the country, adding that Nigeria can make a substantial amount of savings through the reduction of imports.

Onu said this yesterday in Abuja, at the closing ceremony of the 20th meeting of the National Council on Science, Technology and Innovation (NCSTI).

Onu called on The Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO) to make the locally developed technology available to bakers in the best interest of the nation, saying that every nation uses its own locally available raw materials to make products that are of great importance to the sustainability of its economy.
“Work is ongoing on new policies, whose draft copies will soon be presented to FEC for the approval. These include policies on Nanotechnology, Bioethics, Welding and Welding Related Fields as well as the revised National Energy Policy. These new policies when approved, will further deepen the diversification of our economy.

“All aspects of our national life will be positively affected. Through the effective deployment of STI, we will improve on our food security, employment generation, infrastructural development, poverty reduction, promotion of national security among several others. This council must resolve to continuously promote the advocacy of STI in the nation.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has taught every nation, one lasting lesson, and that is the importance of self-reliance. The current Russia-Ukrainian war, also shows clearly that every nation, both small and big alike must effectively utilize STI to ensure that its territorial integrity will always be protected.

“Also, the adverse effected in the anticipated shortfall in imported wheat for bread production arising from this war, can be ameliorated by utilizing research and innovation work already carried out in the Federal Institute for Industrial Research Oshodi (FIIRO). FIIRO through research and innovation has produced bread of comparable quality with 20 percent substitution of cassava flour for wheat.

“Hence, working with 80 percent wheat and 20 percent cassava flour, Nigeria can make substantial savings through reduction in wheat import and yet produce bread of comparable quality for use by our citizens. Every nation through research and innovation uses its own locally available raw materials to make products that are of great importance to the sustainability of its economy.

“I call on FIIRO to make this locally developed technology available to our bakers in the best interest of our nation and also in line with the Presidential Executive Order No 5,” Onu said.