By Faridat Salifu
The Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) is intensifying efforts to reduce the export of unprocessed raw materials from Nigeria, particularly in the rubber industry, through legislative amendments and policy changes.
Speaking at an investment forum in Owerri on Monday, RMRDC Director-General, Prof. Nnayelugo Ike-Muonso, highlighted the council’s push for a review of its establishing Act to mandate value addition before raw materials are exported.
Represented by Mrs. Chima Obi, Director of State Industrial Extension Services, he emphasized the need for industry stakeholders to support the initiative, which aims to strengthen Nigeria’s manufacturing sector.
A public hearing on the proposed amendment, held on March 5, 2024, in Abuja, received broad backing from industry experts.
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The bill, first introduced by Senator Nwebonyi Peter Onyekachi in October 2024, seeks to require at least 30 percent processing of raw materials before they can be exported.
Proponents argue that this will create jobs, stimulate local industries, and retain more economic value within the country.
At the forum, themed “Rebooting Rubber: Transforming Imo’s Agricultural and Industrial Future,” stakeholders echoed the importance of discouraging the export of unprocessed resources.
Deputy Vice President of the National Association of Small-Scale Industrialists (NASSI), Emenike Onu, described the amendment as a game-changer for economic growth.
Imo’s Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Cosmos Maduba, also highlighted the role of rubber plantations in sustaining both smallholder farmers and large-scale producers.
The bill, which passed its second reading in December 2024, is seen as a crucial step toward Nigeria’s industrialization. By ensuring more raw materials are processed locally, it aims to enhance domestic manufacturing capacity and drive long-term economic sustainability.
