Flour Mills of Nigeria has called on the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) to take proactive steps to enhance local production of wheat and sorbitol, two key raw materials critical to Nigeria’s industrial sector, according to Rawmaterials 360 reports.
This appeal came during a strategic courtesy visit by Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso, the Director General of RMRDC, to Flour Mills Plc, aimed at fostering collaboration ahead of the upcoming Africa Raw Materials Summit set for May 2025.
During the visit, Ike-Muonso, who led a team to Flour Mills’ headquarters in Apapa, Lagos State, emphasized the significance of the African Raw Materials Summit.
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 utilization.
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He also shared insights into RMRDC’s ongoing efforts to sponsor a Legislative Bill that mandates a 30 percent 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 the need for Nigeria 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 the company’s pivotal role in driving economic growth and industrial development.
In response, Osuagwu, Group Head of Procurement at Flour Mills, 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.
Efforts to boost wheat production in Nigeria are being supported by various stakeholders. 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 fertilizer for wheat cultivation on 40,000 hectares of land in Jigawa, with the AfDB supporting an additional 120,000 hectares across 15 Nigerian states.
Umar Namadi, Governor of Jigawa State, also shared promising developments at the 2025 Wheat Field Day in Dabi, Ringim Local Government Area of Jigawa State.
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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. This initiative will include the acquisition of 300 additional tractors, 60 harvesters, and other machinery to facilitate faster and more efficient production, he added.
Namadi further emphasized on the importance of youth involvement in the agricultural sector to spur economic growth and development in the state.
He also highlighted the state’s efforts to provide farmers with high-quality seeds, reliable water access, fertilizers, and practical training.
The governor expressed gratitude to the Federal Government, particularly the Minister of Agriculture, for their ongoing support in boosting wheat production, which is significantly contributing to Nigeria’s food security and agricultural growth.
