The Federal Government has announced that it would commence the development of cassava bio-ethanol value chain in the Southeast geopolitical zone, as part of measures to create employment, grow Nigeria’s industry and ensure food availability in the country.
The permanent secretary of the Ministry of Budget and National Planning, Engr. Nebeolisa Anako, disclosed this in Enugu on Tuesday, at a two day workshop, organised by the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and Planning for the Southeast Zone.
In the workshop tagged, “regional awareness and sensitisation workshop on strategic implementation of the Cassava-Bio-Ethanol project,” Anako said that the bio-technology would open vistas of opportunities that would improve the economy in no distant future.
He noted that Nigeria is the biggest producer of cassava and for this reason, ought to harness it and its many value chains apart from food such as ethanol, starch, fine mash among others.
Anako, said that bio-ethanol project of the Federal Government was a pilot project that would commence in the Southeast before it would go round to other parts of the country.
He said that to allow the project succeed, the Federal Government awarded it as a concession with a supporting take off grant, pointing out that with the pilot project launched in the Southeast, “would be replicated in all the zones of the country.
“This project will be replicated in all the zones in the country but is commencing as a pilot project in the Southeast.
“It is a wonderful project and if it succeeds, it will pull people out of poverty, help develop industry, research methods and capacities,” he said.
Governor of Enugu State, Bar. Peter Mbah said that if Nigeria should key into Bio-economy and the derivable value chains, it will not only enhance the economic development of the country but will stem the tendency of youths leaving the country for greener pastures abroad.
Mbah said that the Cassava-Bioethanol project initiated by the Federal Government would give the youths hope and that if the project succeeds, it will create employment opportunities and dissuade the youths from leaving the country.
The governor, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, dropped this hint on Tuesday in Enugu
“Since we are talking about bio-technology, we are looking at the long term of how this will become a brand in terms of productivity for our global economy to enhance competitiveness for our advancing,”he said.
The workshop was attended by university heads, ministries and agencies.
Yes, a good one. FG set to develop a cassava bio-ethanol value chain in the south east.