FGN
Olamilekan Abayomi
Nigeria is set to save N3 trillion annually through a cassava bioethanol project, which aims to reduce the country’s reliance on imported fuel and strengthen its bio-economy. The project involves empowering about 14 million smallholder farmers to produce cassava, which will be used to produce bioethanol for blending with Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
The initiative is part of the national Bio-Economy Policy, focusing on a circular economy model that goes beyond ethanol production to include by-products like CO2 and animal feed. This project is expected to create jobs, boost rural incomes, and expand local production capacity in the renewable energy market .
Vice President Kashim Shettima emphasized that cassava is a strategic agricultural asset for Nigeria, with potential applications in food, feed, energy, pharmaceuticals, and construction materials. The government plans to invest in infrastructure, training, and enterprise models to support young entrepreneurs and smallholder farmers.
The project involves a Triple-Helix knowledge transfer partnership, focusing on high-yield, disease-resistant cassava varieties, investment mobilization, technology access, and market expansion. The government has already begun deploying advanced tractors and specialized implements to support cassava production .
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Kebbi State Government have cultivated 2,675 hectares of cassava for bioethanol production, with plans to expand to 20,000 hectares. This initiative is expected to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported cooking fuels and safeguard the economy against global market fluctuations.
The project aligns with Nigeria’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aiming to reposition cassava as a core driver of import substitution, industrial supply chains, and large-scale employment, particularly in rural areas.
