By Grace Samuel
Mr. Durodola Omolewa Kuteyi, the Managing Director of Spectra Industries Limited and a prominent industrialist, is advocating for the imposition of a ban on the export of grains, whether crushed or uncrushed.
Kuteyi contends that such a prohibition is crucial to stabilizing the agro-allied industries in Nigeria.
Highlighting the current scarcity of essential raw materials like maize and soybeans, which are integral to the agro-allied sector, Kuteyi attributes this scarcity directly to the exportation of these grains.
He emphasizes that the consequences of this exportation have been the closure of numerous industries and the subsequent unemployment of workers.
Kuteyi points out a concerning trend where foreign entities are establishing businesses solely for the purpose of crushing soybeans and exporting them.
This, in turn, has deprived local livestock farmers of the necessary raw materials, creating significant challenges for poultry and fish farmers to sustain their operations.
Proposing a comprehensive ban on the export of both crushed and uncrushed grains, Kuteyi specifies that this ban should encompass the extraction of oil and the production of cake or flakes from grains.
These cake and flakes serve as valuable ingredients in chicken feed, offering a crucial protein source and functioning as essential raw materials for various industries.
Kuteyi underscores the importance of preserving these resources domestically, stating that the continuous exportation of grains and soybean products could lead to a situation where Nigeria is compelled to import them to meet domestic needs.
The call for a ban on grain exports is positioned as a strategic move to secure the stability and sustainability of the agro-allied industries, ensuring a robust future for the sector and safeguarding the livelihoods of farmers and workers alike.
