According to Raw Materials 360 reports, Flour Mills of Nigeria has urged the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) to proactively improve local production of sorbitol and wheat, two essential raw materials for Nigeria’s industrial sector.
This request was made during RMRDC Director General Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso’s strategic courtesy visit to Flour Mills Plc, which was intended to promote cooperation before the Africa Raw Materials Summit in May 2025.
Ike-Muonso underlined the importance of the African Raw Materials Summit while leading a team to Flour Mills’ headquarters in Apapa, Lagos State.
He noted that the event would serve as a vital platform for Flour Mills and other industry stakeholders to engage with peers across the continent on effective raw material utilisation.
He also shared insights into RMRDC’s ongoing efforts to sponsor a Legislative Bill that mandates a 30 per cent value addition to primary raw materials before export.
This initiative is designed to reduce the export of unprocessed materials, promote local production, and ultimately curb Nigeria’s need to import raw materials that are readily available domestically.
Ike-Muonso also commended Flour Mills for its longstanding contributions to Nigeria’s industrial sector, acknowledging its pivotal role in economic growth and development.
Group Head of Procurement at Flour Mills, Osuagwu, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to sourcing materials locally, including cassava, sorghum, and wheat.
However, he highlighted that wheat remains largely imported. Despite a national demand of 60 million metric tonnes per year, only about 60,000 metric tonnes are produced locally, underscoring the urgent need to ramp up domestic wheat cultivation.
Various stakeholders are supporting efforts to boost wheat production in Nigeria. For example, Beth Dunford, Vice President for Agriculture, Human and Social Development at the African Development Bank (AfDB), shared how the AfDB’s African Emergency Food Production Facility (AEFPF) is helping the Nigerian government provide seeds and fertiliser for wheat cultivation on 40,000 hectares of land in Jigawa, with the AfDB supporting an additional 120,000 hectares across 15 Nigerian states.
The Governor of Jigawa State, Umar Namadi also shared promising developments at the 2025 Wheat Field Day in Dabi, Ringim Local Government Area of Jigawa State.
He revealed that local farmers had increased their wheat cultivation to 80,000 hectares, up from 55,000 hectares the previous year.
He also expressed confidence that by 2030, Jigawa State would be able to cultivate 500,000 hectares of wheat, a goal he intends to achieve by establishing the Jigawa Farm Mechanization Company. He added that This initiative would include acquiring 300 additional tractors, 60 harvesters, and other machinery to facilitate faster and more efficient production.
Namadi further underlined how crucial it is for young people to work in agriculture to promote the state’s economic development.
He also emphasised the state’s initiatives to give farmers access to fertiliser, dependable water supplies, high-quality seeds, and hands-on training.
The governor thanked the Federal Government, especially the Agriculture Minister, for supporting the increase in wheat production, a significant factor in Nigeria’s agricultural growth and food security.
Source: BusinessDay
Image Credit: Raw Material 360 – RMRDC
