The Raw Materials Research and Development Council launched an upgraded national raw materials database on Tuesday in Abuja, designed to deliver real-time data on Nigeria's resource base. Director-General Prof. Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso described the platform, officially named the Nigerian Statistical Information System for Products, Raw Materials and Products, as a major step toward a data-driven industrial economy. He said the new system improves on the older Raw Materials Management Information System, which suffered from poor integration, static data, and misalignment with the HS code used in international trade. The upgraded platform now links with 16 internal RMRDC databases and external institutions including the Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigerian Geological Survey Agency, Nigeria Customs Service, and National Bureau of Statistics. It provides real-time insights into the availability, quality, and characteristics of raw materials, supporting investment and pricing decisions. Ike-Muonso noted the system includes agricultural produce, mineral deposits, and waste streams, stating, "Waste is not waste. Waste is an asset." He acknowledged the system cannot yet fully quantify all raw materials due to technological constraints but offers structured estimates for known resources. The platform is expected to enforce Nigeria's 30 per cent value addition requirement for raw material exports by improving traceability and reducing incentives for illicit financial flows. Chinyere Nnamdi-Anum, RMRDC's Director of Corporate Affairs, said the media parley was intended to strengthen collaboration between the council and journalists, calling the press critical to public understanding and national development.
Prof. Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso claims the new database will enforce the 30 per cent value addition policy, yet admits it cannot fully quantify raw materials due to technological gaps—undermining its enforcement capability. If the system cannot accurately track resource volumes, its ability to prevent underprocessed exports is questionable. Nigerians relying on transparent resource management may find the platform more symbolic than functional. The gap between ambition and technical capacity remains wide.
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