VICE PRESIDENT Kashim Shettima has stated that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has repositioned cassava production to serve as a major catalyst for industrial development and import substitution in Nigeria.
Shettima made the remarks on Thursday during the commemoration of the 2025 World Cassava Day at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
He emphasised that cassava, traditionally seen as a staple for food security, now holds significant potential to drive economic prosperity.
According to the Vice President, the government’s strategy for the cassava sector focuses on leveraging the crop as a means to revitalise the economy, enhance rural livelihoods, and strengthen national food and energy security.
“We are transitioning from subsidy-dependent programs to investment-driven solutions,” Shettima stated, adding: “Our approach prioritises private sector investment, research, and coordinated efforts among government agencies, academia, and development partners to advance mechanisation, agro-processing, high-quality inputs, and full commercialization of cassava.”
He described the commemoration as a call to action, urging stakeholders to recognise the crop’s vast potential.
“Today marks the beginning of a new era — where cassava is not just cultivated but transformed into high-value products; where our farmlands yield not just abundance but profitability; and where Nigeria leads not only in production volume but in value creation,” he said.
Shettima underscored cassava’s versatility, noting its applications in food, animal feed, biofuel, pharmaceuticals, textiles, and construction.
He highlighted the Cassava Bioethanol Project as one of the administration’s most significant initiatives, projecting annual savings of over three trillion naira by reducing reliance on imported fuel additives.
“This project will also foster a circular economy in agriculture, converting cassava by-products into energy, fertilizers, and industrial materials,” he explained. “What was once considered waste will now generate wealth. This is how nations achieve progress.”
The Vice-President called for collective action, stressing the need for tangible results over mere intentions. “The world will judge us not by our plans but by our outcomes — by how effectively we transform lives and revitalise rural economies,” he said.
Shettima commended the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and other partners for their contributions to agricultural innovation, particularly the deployment of the Semi-Autotrophic Hydroponic system for cassava seed multiplication.
He also acknowledged Nigeria’s productive collaboration with Brazil, describing it as a testament to the transformative power of political will and international cooperation in agriculture.
The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Aliyu Abdullahi, emphasised the need for collaboration among stakeholders in Nigeria and across Africa to revolutionise cassava production. He reiterated the Tinubu administration’s commitment to developing the cassava value chain through accelerated and well-coordinated interventions.
Similarly, the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Uche Nnaji, stated that cassava holds immense potential for both food security and industrial growth.
“At our ministry, we are actively working to unlock the full potential of cassava through research, development, and strategic partnerships,” Nnaji said. “By collaborating with government agencies, development partners, the private sector, and youth, we aim to position Nigeria as a global leader in cassava production and utilization.”
Dr. Kingsley Uzoma, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Agribusiness and Productivity Enhancement, noted that the event reinforced the government’s vision for agricultural and economic transformation. He stressed that the celebration aimed to reposition cassava as a strategic raw material at the forefront of socio-economic development.
