RMRDC seeks support raw material export ban

The Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) is seeking the support of the rubber industry regarding the prevention of the export of raw materials from Nigeria through the amendment of its founding Act, among other measures. The council’s Director-General, Prof. Nnayelugo Ike-Muonso, said this at an investment forum on the development and rehabilitation of the rubber value chain in Owerri.

Ike-Muonso was represented by the Director of the State Industrial Extension Services Department, Chima Obi. He urged stakeholders in the rubber industry to support the council’s ongoing quest for review of the Act establishing the council. The DG said that stakeholders in Abuja gave overwhelming support to the bill on March 5, 2024, during a public hearing organised by the Senate Committee on Science and Technology.



He urged rubber industry stakeholders to also support the bill’s amendment, adding that the consideration and passage of the bill would stop the exportation of wealth and jobs by ensuring that raw materials are processed before export. “Value addition plays a crucial role in fostering economic development, enhancing business growth, and ensuring consumer satisfaction. Through transforming raw materials into higher-value products, industries can increase profitability, create employment opportunities, and promote sustainable development,” he said.

Speaking on the theme ‘Rebooting Rubber: Transforming Imo’s Agricultural and Industrial Future’, Deputy Vice President of the National Association of Small-Scale Industrialists (NASSI), Emenike Onu, described the proposed amendment as a significant step towards achieving greater economic growth. He stressed the need for legislators to discourage the export of Nigeria’s raw materials in their unprocessed form. The Imo Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Cosmos Maduba, agreed that rubber plantation is a lifeline for millions of smallholder farmers and large-scale producers worldwide.

Among other things, the amendment is aimed at granting the Council the mandate to enforce compliance with the provisions of the proposed bill. The bill also seeks to prohibit the export of raw materials in their raw forms without at least 30 per cent value addition. It is designed to prioritise domestic production and substantially boost Nigeria’s local manufacturing capabilities.

The bill is considered by industry experts as a crucial step toward Nigeria’s industrialisation and sustainable economic growth..