The Director General of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Professor Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso, has raised concerns about Nigeria’s excessive dependence on imported raw materials.
While revealing that over 70 per cent of the inputs used in the country’s manufacturing sector are still sourced from abroad, Ike-Muonso described the situation as a structural weakness that threatens Nigeria’s industrial future and undermines job creation.
He stated this at the 2025 edition of the Nigeria Manufacturing and Equipment/Raw Materials (NME/NIRAM) Expo in Lagos with the theme “Accelerating Sustainable Manufacturing Through Cutting-edge Equipment and Technology Solutions”.
According to him, in just the first nine months of 2024, Nigeria spent N4.53 trillion on raw material imports. He added that the manufacturing sector contributed only 9.62 per cent to GDP in the first quarter of 2025, a drop from 9.8 per cent the previous year.
The RMRDC boss lamented that the country continues to export raw materials in crude form, only to re-import them in refined form, thereby exporting both jobs and value.
He warned that unless urgent reforms are made, the country risks remaining locked in a cycle of dependency.
He stressed the need for Nigeria to fully embrace the Fourth Industrial Revolution, urging stakeholders to adopt smart technologies, resource-efficient processes, and a national industrial ethos anchored on sustainability.
Highlighting RMRDC’s efforts, he pointed to the Council’s Research and Demonstration Plant Complex (RDPC) in Abuja, which houses over 50 pilot plants designed and fabricated locally to convert indigenous materials, such as cassava, talc, and shea, into finished industrial products.
These numbers expose a structural weakness,” the DG stated. “We export raw materials in crude form, import them back refined, and in the process, export jobs and value.”
“This positive development not only makes the challenge of cutting-edge technology for raw material processing both imperative and urgent but holds the ace for providing global investors with the legislative confidence they require to invest in processing technologies and domestic processing of raw materials,” the DG stated.
Speaking, Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, while declaring the Expo open, affirmed that for Nigeria to experience industrial development, innovation and technology must be prioritised.
He commended the RMRDC and the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) for organising such a timely event.
Nnaji further stated that the expo provides a strategic platform for inspiring new innovative ideas that are capable of moving the Nigerian manufacturing ecosystem forward.
According to him, one of the major planks of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda is strengthening Nigeria’s manufacturing industry to enhance its capacity and capabilities, thereby enabling it to innovate and produce products that significantly reduce the country’s overdependence on importation.
President MAN, Otunba Francis Meshioye, reinforced the expo’s importance to Nigeria’s industrial policy.
Meshioye underscored the need to embrace cutting-edge technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance productivity and efficiency in manufacturing processes.
He said: “We are focused on energy-efficient production, smart factory protocols, closed-loop systems, and advanced recycling “These approaches not only reduce waste but add long-term value for stakeholders.”
He added that the 2025 expo was reengineered to align with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s “Nigeria First” policy, a call to deepen local content, promote homegrown solutions, and support domestic industry.
In his remarks, the Director General of the MAN, Segun Ajayi-Kadir, expressed enthusiasm that the three days of exposition and conversation around value chain optimisation would deliver economic self-reliance and enhanced industrialisation.
He urged participants to get involved at the expo, showcasing innovative products and solutions developed by local manufacturers, while also connecting with potential customers, partners, and investors.
Kadir stated,” This expo also allows us to examine the state of the manufacturing sector and to co-create solutions to ameliorate identified challenges. This is a marketplace of ideas, and we look forward to harvesting innovative solutions to grow the manufacturing sector and develop the Nigerian economy.”
The three-day expo, jointly organised by the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and RMRDC, continues with exhibitions, policy panels, and innovation showcases aimed at accelerating Nigeria’s journey toward sustainable and technology-driven manufacturing.
