The Nigerian Senate is set to pass the 30% Minimum Value-Addition Bill this week, a landmark legislation aimed at transforming Nigeria’s raw materials sector and stimulating local industrial growth.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, represented by Senator Aminu Abbas (Adamawa Central), made the announcement on Tuesday at the Africa Raw Materials Summit in Abuja, hosted by the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC). The summit brought together stakeholders to chart a path for Africa’s industrial future.
Akpabio described the bill as “groundbreaking,” emphasizing that it will mandate all raw materials of Nigerian origin to undergo a minimum of 30% local processing—through refining, packaging, or other value-adding methods—before export.
“We extract, others manufacture. We export raw materials and import them as finished goods. This colonial-era model must give way to a new paradigm of local processing, regional integration, and sovereign economic vision,” Akpabio declared.
The Senate President stated that the bill is not designed to hinder trade but to create jobs, boost domestic enterprise, and strengthen Nigeria’s industrial value chains.
“The legislation is meant to ignite industrial growth, not suffocate businesses. It’s a step toward creating a self-sufficient, value-driven economy,” he added.
Concerns from Private Sector
While the bill enjoys Senate backing, it has faced criticism from stakeholders such as the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), which warned of possible negative impacts on exporters and manufacturers.
Nonetheless, Akpabio reaffirmed the Senate’s commitment to the bill and to supporting the goals of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). He also called for greater investment from African sovereign wealth funds and pension institutions in industrial and green energy infrastructure.
Industry Leaders Back Bill for Industrial Transformation
Minister of State for Industry, Senator John Enoh, emphasized the need for urgent collaboration with RMRDC to accelerate the bill’s passage. He highlighted the importance of shifting away from overreliance on raw material exports.
“Nigeria continues to export more raw materials than finished goods. That must change if we hope to build a strong industrial economy,” Enoh said.
The Minister urged more support for SMEs, investment in local factories, and skills development for African youth, advocating for a shift from resource extraction to value creation.
Africa Must Stop Exporting Its Future — Minister of Innovation
Also speaking at the event, Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Uche Nnaji, made a strong case for an Africa-wide shift from extractive dependency to value-added industrialization.
“Value addition is no longer aspirational—it is imperative. It’s the bridge from poverty to prosperity. Africa must stop exporting its future in raw form,” Nnaji stated.
He envisioned a future where Africa’s natural resources are processed locally into finished products—like batteries from lead, fine chocolate from cocoa, and industrial inputs from cassava—while empowering the youth as scientists, engineers, and innovators.
