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FG Officially Launches Project WHEAT-NESS

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FG Officially Launches Project WHEAT-NESS

The Federal Government of Nigeria has on Wednesday, 14 October 2026, at a stakeholder engagement held at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, launched a Wheat-Based Consumer Foods Value Chain Optimisation and Cost Competitiveness Programme named Project WHEAT-NESS.

The programme is a national wheat value chain intervention approved by His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. A Steering Committee chaired by the Honourable Minister of State for Industry, Senator John Owan Enoh, oversees the programme, while a Programme Delivery Unit (PDU) led by the National Programme Coordinator, Mr. Gerald Okunsebor, is responsible for delivery.

Project WHEAT-NESS takes a whole-chain view across five segments: upstream supply, industrial processing, downstream enterprise, consumer markets, and the finance and policy environment. It is expected to run for approximately 24 months.

The challenge is not only the volume of grain produced, but the cost, quality, consistency, financing, data baseline harmonization, and logistics of the whole chain from farm to table — determining the price Nigerian households pay for bread and other wheat-based foods.

Key Deliberations

The Launch featured a Welcome Address by the Permanent Secretary of FMITI, opening remarks on behalf of the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, a goodwill message from the African Development Bank (AfDB), a presentation by the National Programme Coordinator, a Special Address on behalf of the President, and a Keynote Address by the Honourable Minister of State for Industry, who formally launched the programme

  • The Permanent Secretary stated that the programme would target a 10 to 15 per cent reduction in import dependence within its first three years, with potential foreign-exchange savings of US$200 million to US$300 million annually, and referenced a proposed Wheat-Based Consumer Food Value Chain Development Fund.
  • The representative of the Minister of Finance stressed the need for clear objectives, measurable targets, an effective monitoring framework, and the validation and harmonization of domestic production and import statistics against the latest National Bureau of Statistics, Ministry, and industry data.
  • The National Programme Coordinator explained that the programme will operate on two tracks — programmatic value chain activities and a blended-finance development fund — beginning with a comprehensive baseline assessment. Early interventions are expected before the end of 2026, and a memorandum of understanding with the Bank of Industry (BOI) is being formalized.
  • The Special Adviser outlined four commitments: coordination among trade, agriculture, industry and finance; affordable capital; affordable energy and infrastructure (including storage and logistics); and measurement through indices and KPIs.
  • The Honourable Minister of State affirmed that the programme is not a subsidy but a whole-chain programme, resting on three commitments: evidence before intervention, partnership by design, and accountability in the open.

High-Level Dialogue and Breakout Sessions

  • The high-level dialogue, “From Farm to Table: Building a Competitive, Efficient and Affordable Domestic Wheat Value Chain for the Nigerian Consumer,” was moderated by Ms. Yasmin Kamara-Osaghae of Manufacturing Africa.

    Technical evidence from the Federal Department of Agriculture established that seed variety availability is not the primary binding constraint. Over 21 released wheat varieties (including Norman, Imam, and Borlaug-100 FMAN) have demonstrated potential yields of 6.0, 7.1, and 8.2 tons per hectare. The principal agronomic constraints identified were strict adherence to the recommended planting window (15 November to 15 December, outside of which yield losses of up to 40% can occur) and the high cost of inputs, land preparation, machinery, and irrigation energy.

    ROOM A – UPSTREAM

  • Identified upstream supply chain fragmentation and seasonal yield inefficiency as the central problem. Key drivers included seed multiplication and demand forecasting gaps, high transportation costs from farms to processing hubs, variable quality specifications, and seasonal finance bottlenecks.

    ROOM B- Enterprise

  • Identified the high cost of doing business as the central problem. Key drivers included multiple taxation and levies, the cost of energy, and distribution and logistics challenges. Participants also stressed the need for consistent volume and quality of local grain at a price close to the imported equivalent, inventory-based finance, insurance, and policy continuity.

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Proposals Put Forward for Consideration

  • The breakout sessions put forward the following proposals for consideration by the Steering Committee and the Programme Delivery Unit:

    1. A technical committee on inputs, seed demand forecasting, and policy, and consideration of whether a national wheat coordinating body is needed.
    2. A structured roundtable of millers, seed producers, and grain producers to establish binding quality/volume specifications, testing standards, and transparent off-take arrangements.
    3. Input support for seed, fertilizer, pesticide, and mechanization (harvesters, seed drills, irrigation) through subsidies, vouchers, or private sector pre-financing, supported by farmer and farm mapping.
    4. Adoption of the Nigeria Agricultural Development Fund framework and risk-sharing structures, with blended finance windows coordinated for wheat.
    5. Encouragement of millers to establish processing capacity in wheat-producing regions, supported by road logistics, irrigation, and local storage.
    6. Lower-cost, fit-for-purpose finance across the value chain, including single-digit lending for equipment such as solar-powered pumps for farmers and solar energy systems for bakeries.
    7. Operationalization of the warehouse receipt system and Nigeria Commodity Exchange (NCX) structured trading, supported by insurance, collateral management, and inventory-based working capital finance.
    8. A comprehensive review of multiple levies, taxes, and charges imposed on producers, processors, and distributors by federal, state, and local agencies.
  • Note: These proposals represent stakeholder inputs. The plenary signified general assent to the reports of the two rooms, but this assent was not a formal decision of the Steering Committee. No priority will be submitted without evidence, in line with the Honourable Minister of State’s mandate.

Next Steps....

    • The Programme Delivery Unit (PDU) will conduct a comprehensive baseline assessment across each part of the value chain, incorporating a data-harmonization exercise for domestic production and import metrics.
    • The memorandum of understanding between the PDU and the Bank of Industry (BOI), and potential collaboration frameworks with risk-sharing entities such as NIRSAL, will be formalized.
    • The first tranche of early interventions, drawn from breakout session outputs, is expected before year-end.
    • The PDU will log and follow up on every registration at the Partnership Registry Desk.
    • The programme team will continue engaging stakeholders by email, letter, and direct visits.

Key Outcomes...

    • Competitiveness and Affordability: A more efficient industry produces a fairer price for Nigerian households.
    • Production Costs as Central Constraint: Energy, logistics, input costs, high interest rates, and multiple levies were repeatedly cited as primary obstacles.
    • Industrial Grade Standards: Local grain must meet industrial processing requirements. Variety selection, agronomic compliance (especially the 15 Nov–15 Dec planting window), and testing standards are essential for industrial acceptance.
    • Fit-for-Purpose Finance: Financial products must be tailored — seasonal for farmers, patient for processors, accessible for small bakeries — and backed by inventory finance, warehouse receipts, and risk-sharing mechanisms.
    • Policy Continuity: Stakeholders urged a unified platform uniting government, industry, research institutes, and finance.
    • Evidence-Based Delivery: The programme rests on harmonized baseline data, clear KPIs, and regular progress reporting to the President.
    •  

Conclusion

  • The Launch marked the formal public commencement of Project WHEAT-NESS and provided stakeholders their first structured opportunity to present constraints and priorities to Government. The vote of thanks stressed that the conversation must translate into concrete actions, investments, and measurable outcomes.

    The Launch reaffirmed the commitment to sustained collaboration among government, industry, finance, research, and development partners to reduce production costs, improve local supply quality, and keep wheat-based foods affordable for all Nigerian households.

    The event concluded at approximately 5:00 p.m. following the vote of thanks on behalf of Mr. Mohammed Bala, Director of Industrial Development, FMITI, followed by a group photograph, networking, and engagement at the Partnership Registry Desk.

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Nigeria’s Cotton, Textile and Garment Transformation Programme Gains Momentum

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Nigeria’s Cotton, Textile and Garment Transformation Programme Gains Momentum

Federal Government Advances Industrial Revival Through Structured Cotton, Textile and Garment Value Chain Reform.

The Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment led by the Honourable Minister of State for Industry, Senator John Owan Enoh has reaffirmed its commitment to rebuilding Nigeria’s Cotton, Textile and Garment (CTG) sector through a coordinated industrial transformation programme designed to strengthen domestic production, improve value chain integration, and increase competitiveness.

Speaking during the closeout of Phase I of the programme, stakeholders highlighted the importance of building a functional production architecture capable of supporting large-scale cotton cultivation, textile manufacturing, and garment production within Nigeria.

The initiative forms part of the Federal Government’s broader industrialisation agenda aimed at repositioning the CTG sector as a driver of employment, manufacturing growth, and economic diversification.

Moving Beyond Policy Proposals

According to the Minister, the programme was designed not merely as a policy concept, but as a practical pilot implemented under real market conditions taking into account stakeholders perspectives and sector tour challenges.

The pilot tested whether Nigerian manufacturers, farmers, financiers, and garment producers could operate as an integrated system capable of delivering quality products competitively and on schedule.

The exercise demonstrated that high-quality long-staple cotton can be produced locally throughout the year and that Nigerian garment manufacturers can meet production specifications when supported by structured coordination across the value chain.

Stakeholders noted that previous interventions within the textile industry often focused on isolated support mechanisms without addressing the wider operational linkages required for a functional industrial chain.

The pilot programme identified several critical realities shaping the future of the sector.

Key Findings From the Phase I Pilot

Structured Demand Strengthens Production

One of the central findings was that visible and structured downstream demand can stabilise the entire production ecosystem. Manufacturers are better able to plan investments and production schedules when order volumes and delivery timelines are clear. This clarity also influences upstream activities, including cotton farming decisions, mill operations, and financing arrangements.

Nigerian Farmers Can Deliver Competitive Input Quality

The programme also showed that Nigerian cotton farmers can improve input quality when provided with the right incentives, technical support, and reliable market signals.This finding challenges long-standing assumptions that raw material limitations make local textile production difficult to scale.

Execution Gaps Are Now Better Understood

The pilot exposed operational weaknesses affecting the sector, particularly in logistics, financing coordination, and institutional alignment. Officials explained that identifying these gaps at transaction level provides valuable insight for future reforms and implementation strategies.

Addressing Nigeria’s Textile Sector Decline

Nigeria’s textile industry has experienced significant decline over several decades despite multiple interventions. Active textile mills have reportedly reduced from nearly 180 to fewer than 20, while capacity utilisation remains low.

At the same time, Nigeria continues to import billions of dollars worth of textile products annually despite possessing cotton farmers, garment factories, and a large domestic apparel market.

Stakeholders at the event stressed that the decline was not caused by a lack of local production ability, but by the absence of an integrated industrial system capable of connecting farmers, manufacturers, financiers, logistics providers, and markets.

Economic Opportunities and Employment Potential

The programme also highlighted the economic opportunities associated with a revived CTG sector.

Nigeria currently produces less than thirty percent of domestic textile demand, creating significant room for local manufacturing expansion.With a growing youth population and increasing regional trade opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), officials believe the sector could generate substantial employment opportunities across cotton farming, textile processing, garment manufacturing, transportation, logistics, retail, and exports.

Phases II and III Already Underway

Following the completion of Phase I, government officials confirmed that Phases II and III of the programme are already in progress.

Immediate priorities include:

  • Launching a revised policy framework for the CTG sector
  • Operationalising the National CTG Development Council
  • Improving industry visibility through a national dataset
  • Expanding participation across the pilot programme
  • Increasing production volumes across the value chain
  • Officials stated that the programme is focused on building long-term industrial capacity through coordinated policy alignment, financing support, infrastructure development, logistics improvement, and institutional strengthening.

 

Strategic Partnerships Driving the Programme

The transformation programme continues to receive support from both public and private sector institutions.

Partners acknowledged during the event included the Bank of Industry, Africa Finance Corporation, United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Raw Materials Research and Development Council, and Wema Bank.

Stakeholders emphasised that collaboration between government institutions, development finance organisations, manufacturers, and private investors will remain critical to sustaining the programme’s long-term objectives.

Building a Sustainable Industrial System

Organisers concluded that the garments and production outputs presented during the pilot may currently be modest in scale, but they represent the foundation of a broader industrial system designed for sustainability and growth.

The Federal Government maintains that rebuilding Nigeria’s cotton, textile, and garment sector will require disciplined execution, institutional coordination, and consistent long-term commitment across all segments of the value chain.

As implementation advances into subsequent phases, stakeholders expressed confidence that the programme can help restore industrial activity within the sector while strengthening Nigeria’s manufacturing base and improving economic opportunities nationwide.

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The Minister of State for Industry Sen. John Owan Enoh Has Undertaken a Strategic Tour of Key Industrial Sites in Kaduna State

The Minister of State for Industry, John Enoh, has undertaken a strategic tour of key industrial sites in Kaduna state to speed up the revival efforts of the comatose tex-tile, cotton and garment (CTG) sector.

The minister was accompanied by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Rimi Abba, and the Director-General of the Bank of Industry, Dr Olasupo Olusi. The minister, during the tour yesterday, said the tour was part of the Federal Government’s renewed commitment to industrial revital isation under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s eight-point agenda. The Agenda Seven prioritises job creation, inclu-sive economic growth, and industrial development.

During a visit to United Nigerian Textiles Limited (UNIL), the minister, who was received by the Emir of Kano and Chairman of UNTL, His Royal Highness Sanusi Lamido, described UNTL as a historic textile mill that once served as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s manufacturing sec-tor.

Enoh acknowledged the concerns over the near collapse of the sector while assuring that under President Tinubu’s leadership, several developmental strides have been made to reposition the CTG sector.

The steps taken so far include convening sub-sector stakeholder engagements to identify and resolve bottlenecks, promoting public-private partnerships and collaborating with development partners while strengthening policy frameworks to support local manufacturing and boost export competitive-ness.

He underscored the symbolic and economic importance of UNIL’s revival, stating that its return to full operation would restore confidence in Nigeria’s textile heritage and catalyse broader industrial growth.

At Chellco Industries, the minister noted that the firm represents a resilient textile firm that has remained operational since 1980, despite decades of economic turbulence.

Enoh commended the management for their unwavering commitment and noted that Chellco currently provides direct employment to over 290 workers, contributing significantly to the local economy.

He pledged continued government support and conveyed President Tinubu’s goodwill, assuring stakeholders that the administration remains steadfast in its mission to restore Nigeria’s industrial pride and reposition the CTG sector as a driver for inclusive growth.

In his opening remark, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment (FMITI), Ambassador Nura Rimi Abba, represented by Bala Mohammed, Director of the Industrial Development Department, stressed the urgent need for results-driven execution, highlighting the direct impact of industrial growth on employment, economic resilience, local production capacity, and export expansion.

The Director General of the Manufacturing Association of Nigeria (MAN) shared critical insights into the session’s thematic focus, emphasising the importance of collaboration between public and private sectors. Representing GIZ, Dr. Dada Olusegun reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to sustainable development and its ongoing partnership with the ministry to drive skills development and sustainability.

The President of MAN and Co-Chair of IRWG, Otumba Francis Ivieshioye OFR, encouraged participants to actively contribute by leveraging their expertise to shape the future of Nigeria’s industrial sector.

Setting the tone for the discussions, Senator John Owan Enoh, Honourable Minister of State for Industry and Chairperson of IRWG, delivered a powerful address.

“We gather here today under no illusion. We are not here for symbolism or to add another page to government archives. We are here because something must change—permanently and decisively, in how we execute Nigeria’s industrial ambition.” Enoh stated.

He further noted that, for too long, industrial policy discussions lacked speed and consistency, resulting in slow and inconsistent progress. He emphasised that IRWG was established not as an advisory body but as an operational force focused on tangible results.

The Minister stated that the success of IRWG’s work must be measured by the momentum created, the systems improved, the industries revived, and the jobs enabled. To ensure accountability, he urged participants to focus discussions on execution, setting measurable targets for 90 days, six months, and one year while establishing a framework for continuous evaluation.

He also announced that the Draft National Industrial Policy was ready for revalidation and assured participants that it would serve as a dynamic framework tackling Nigeria’s most pressing industrial challenges, including energy insecurity, logistics issues, talent gaps, workforce development, and shifts in global supply chains.

Participants engaged in structured discussions centered on key industrial priorities such as unlocking long-term financing and incentives for SMEs and major industries, strengthening energy security and infrastructure to support manufacturing, simplifying bureaucratic processes to eliminate regulatory bottlenecks, promoting Made-in-Nigeria initiatives and enforcing anti-contraband measures, and addressing the skills gap while embracing technological innovation.

The session ended satisfactorily, reinforcing the need for execution-driven thinking while ensuring that every proposal translates into real industrial impact.