Nigeria’s cassava production has long been plagued by challenges, resulting in a ‘cassava paradox’ that sees the country exporting raw cassava while importing processed cassava products. A recent article in The Nation Newspaper delves into potential solutions to overcome these issues. According to the report, Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man, has proposed building a cassava processing plant with a capacity to process 100,000 metric tons of cassava per year. The aim is to reduce waste and create jobs, while also addressing the shortage of processed cassava products in the market. The Nigerian government, through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has also launched a N25 billion Cassava Processing, Storage, and Marketing Project (CASMAP) to improve cassava value chain efficiency. The project aims to create 450,000 jobs and reduce post-harvest losses by 50%. Rabiu Kwankwaso, a former Governor of Kano State and a presidential aspirant, has also advocated for the creation of 100 more BUA Group, a Nigerian conglomerate, to boost industrialisation and create jobs. The solutions proposed are a step towards addressing Nigeria’s cassava paradox, but it remains to be seen how effectively they will be implemented.
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