The Nigerian Senate is preparing to pass the 30% Minimum Value-Addition Bill this week—a legislative move aimed at accelerating industrialisation and reducing the country’s overdependence on raw material exports.
According to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who was represented by Senator Aminu Abbas at the Africa Raw Materials Summit in Abuja, the proposed law will require that no raw material of Nigerian origin be exported unless it has undergone at least 30% local transformation. This could include processing, refining, packaging, or other industrial upgrades.
Akpabio described the legislation as “groundbreaking”, stressing that it is designed to create jobs, attract private investment, and build sustainable industrial value chains across Nigeria. He rejected claims that the bill would harm exporters, stating that it instead aims to spark domestic enterprise and foster long-term economic growth.
While the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise had earlier expressed reservations over potential negative effects on businesses, Akpabio insisted the bill encourages trade and value creation rather than limiting export opportunities.
“The time has come to stop exporting raw resources only to import them back as expensive finished goods,” he said, emphasizing Nigeria’s need for economic self-reliance and regional competitiveness.
The bill drew support from key stakeholders. Minister of State for Industry, John Enoh, urged the legislature to act swiftly, stressing the importance of transitioning from resource extraction to manufacturing. He also called for increased support for small businesses and youth skill development to complement the bill’s objectives.
Also speaking at the event, Minister of Innovation, Uche Nnaji, said Africa must abandon its extractive economic model in favor of value-driven industrialisation. He noted that value addition is no longer optional but essential for reducing poverty, empowering youth, and boosting global competitiveness.
The bill aligns with regional goals under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and is expected to attract funding from African pension and sovereign wealth funds, as well as development banks, to support infrastructure, green industry, and industrial growth across the continent.
