.. Urges Nigerians to Back Tinubu’s Industrialisation Agenda
By| Goodluck E.Adubazi, Abuja
The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Prof. Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso, has said Nigeria’s industrial sector can only become globally competitive through the development of local raw materials and sustained policy consistency by both government and industry stakeholders.
Speaking at a stakeholder engagement forum held at the Council’s headquarters in Abuja on Monday, Prof. Ike-Muonso called on Nigerians to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s industrialisation agenda, stressing that local value addition and stronger collaboration among stakeholders are essential for transforming the country from an extractive economy into an industrially resilient one.
According to him, the administration’s Nigeria First Policy and Renewed Hope Agenda, encapsulated in the recently launched Nigeria Industrial Policy, places strong emphasis on manufacturing, value addition, and reducing dependence on imports.
He noted that the RMRDC is strategically positioned to drive the implementation of these objectives through research, policy advocacy, and partnerships.
“For us to industrialise, we must move from exporting raw materials to processing them here at home. That is the heart of Mr. President’s vision. But this vision cannot succeed without deliberate support from all stakeholders,” he said.
Prof. Ike-Muonso identified policy inconsistency, inadequate research funding, and weak linkages between research institutions and manufacturers as major obstacles to industrial development, noting that the new industrial policy seeks to address these challenges comprehensively.
He expressed concern that a significant proportion of raw materials used by local manufacturers are still imported despite Nigeria’s abundant natural resources, describing the trend as unsustainable.
The RMRDC boss urged state governments, development partners, and private investors to align with the Federal Government’s industrial policy by investing in local raw material development and increasing patronage of Nigerian-made industrial inputs.
Highlighting ongoing efforts by the Council, he announced the unveiling of the Nigeria Information Statistical System for Raw Materials and Products (NISSRAMP), an integrated database designed to improve access to critical raw materials data and support industrial growth.
He said the initiative forms part of RMRDC’s contribution to the implementation of President Tinubu’s industrial development agenda.
Prof. Ike-Muonso also advocated stronger legislation to protect local industries and discourage the export of unprocessed minerals, timber, and agricultural products.
“If we continue to export our lithium, shea butter, and kaolin in raw form, we are exporting jobs and wealth. President Tinubu’s policy is clear: process it here, create jobs here, retain value here,” he stated.
Stakeholders from both the public and private sectors who attended the forum pledged support for the Federal Government’s industrial policy and expressed readiness to deepen collaboration with the RMRDC to enhance local sourcing of industrial inputs.
They also indicated willingness to increase patronage of Nigerian raw materials, provided quality standards and supply consistency are maintained.
In response, Prof. Ike-Muonso assured stakeholders that the Council would continue strengthening its technical support services and research activities to meet industry requirements and lower production costs for manufacturers.
He reiterated that industrialisation should be viewed as a collective national responsibility, adding that stronger support for President Tinubu’s agenda would accelerate job creation, economic diversification, and sustainable economic growth across the country.
