FG To Use Cassava For Petrol Production To Reduce Fuel Imports
By Patience Ikpeme
The Federal Government has started a new plan to turn cassava into a special kind of alcohol called fuel-grade ethanol, which will be mixed with petrol.
This move is designed to reduce the huge amount of money Nigeria spends on importing fuel from abroad. By producing this fuel additive locally, the government hopes to protect the value of the Naira and create a new economy centered on local farming and processing.
The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, shared this information during a training program for people involved in the cassava bio-ethanol project in Nasarawa State on Wednesday and Thursday. The Minister, who spoke through a Director in the Ministry, Mr. Muhammed Auwal, explained that a major part of this plan is to stop the waste of cassava after harvest. Currently, about 40 percent of cassava is lost because it is not processed quickly.
“We aim to minimize the window between harvest and processing, thereby preserving starch integrity and ensuring our output meets international specifications for ethanol,” the Minister said. He noted that the government will set up special centers to gather and process cassava immediately it leaves the farm so that the quality remains high enough for industrial use.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Deborah Odoh, said the government is fully ready to support everyone involved in this journey. She promised that the ministry will keep a close eye on the project to make sure it creates real jobs for the youth and more income for farmers. She told the participants that their goal should be to turn the talk into real results that people can see across the North Central region.
Also speaking at the event, Mr. Fatai Olaifa, who represented the Economic Growth Department, described cassava as a “versatile crop” that holds many opportunities for farmers and business owners. He said the success of the project depends on everyone working together. He promised that the government would make the rules clear so that private businesses can work efficiently with the public sector.
The Director General of NAFDAC, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, who was represented by Dr. Oyedele Olusegun, praised the Ministry for this idea to diversify the economy. She said her agency is committed to making sure the other products that come out of cassava processing are also put to good use.
From Benue State, the Technical Adviser to the Governor on Food Security, Ms. Ochanya Okoh, said her state is ready to grow even more cassava to meet the demand. She noted that Benue is a leader in cassava production and is fully committed to making the bio-ethanol project a success in the region.
This project is part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. It aims to move Nigeria away from just farming to eat, towards a system where the country processes its own crops into industrial materials for export and local use. The workshop brought together experts from NAFDAC, the Ministry of Agriculture, research councils, and cassava farmers’ associations.
