The Raw Materials Research and Development Council has launched an upgraded national raw materials database designed to provide real-time data on Nigeria’s resource base, strengthen industrial planning, and improve investment decision-making.
The announcement was made on Tuesday in Abuja during a media parley, where the Director-General of RMRDC, Prof. Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso, described the platform as a major milestone in Nigeria’s effort to build a data-driven industrial economy.
He said the new system—formally known as the Nigerian Statistical Information System for Products, Raw Materials and Products—represents a significant upgrade from earlier versions of the council’s raw materials information framework.
“We are presenting to the world the second-generation RMRDC database, which is unarguably one of the best—if not the best—platforms for informed decision-making on policies, investments, and manufacturing in this country,” Ike-Muonso said.
The Director-General explained that the earlier Raw Materials Management Information System, built from a nationwide survey of raw materials, provided a strong foundation but was limited by poor integration, lack of dynamism, and weak alignment with global classification systems.
“Shortly after its development, we realised it had limitations. It was not well aligned with the HS code, it was static, and it did not allow integration with other databases,” he said.
According to him, the upgraded platform now integrates with major national and international data institutions, including the Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigerian Geological Survey Agency, Nigeria Customs Service, and the National Bureau of Statistics, as well as 16 internal RMRDC databases.
He added that the system would provide real-time insights into the availability, quality, and characteristics of raw materials across different parts of the country, supporting pricing and investment decisions.
Ike-Muonso noted that Nigeria’s push for a centralised raw materials database is driven by longstanding challenges such as fragmented resource data, import dependency, and limited industrial utilisation of locally available materials.
He also stressed that the database goes beyond conventional raw materials, incorporating agricultural produce, mineral deposits, and waste streams.
“Waste is not waste. Waste is an asset. Once properly harnessed through recycling and reuse, it becomes very valuable,” he said.
He, however, noted that the system cannot yet fully quantify all raw materials nationwide due to technological limitations but provides structured estimates for known deposits and emerging resource streams.
“We cannot, with certainty, fully quantify and determine the value of all raw materials in the country for now. That level of technology is not yet available,” he added.
The RMRDC boss further explained that the platform is designed to support Nigeria’s industrial policy direction, particularly the 30 per cent value addition requirement for raw material exports.
“This system will give teeth to the 30 per cent value addition policy before export. It will make it easier to trace raw materials, enforce local processing, and reduce incentives for illicit financial flows,” he said.
In her remarks, the Director of Corporate Affairs of RMRDC, Chinyere Nnamdi-Anum, described the media parley as a strategic engagement aimed at strengthening collaboration between the council and the press.
“It is with great pleasure and a deep sense of responsibility that I welcome you all to this important media parley organised by the Raw Materials Research and Development Council,” she said.
She noted that the media remains central to public understanding of the council’s work and national development efforts.
“Your consistent efforts in informing, educating, and shaping public discourse remain critical to the growth and transformation of our nation. We do not take your role for granted,” she added.
Nnamdi-Anum highlighted reforms under the current leadership, including new digital communication platforms such as the Raw Materials 360 Online Newspaper and RMRDC Online Radio, alongside expanded social media engagement.
“These accomplishments, however, cannot achieve their full impact without effective partnership with journalists,” she said.
She added that the engagement was designed to build a “stronger, more structured, and sustainable partnership” with the media while encouraging feedback to improve communication strategies.
“The RMRDC cannot do it alone, just as the media cannot operate in isolation. Together, we can amplify the message of self-reliance, industrial growth, and economic diversification for the benefit of all Nigerians,” she said.
The council noted that the upgraded database marks a step toward building a smarter industrial ecosystem in Nigeria, where data, technology, and policy alignment drive value addition, investment decisions, and long-term economic transformation.
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