Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN) has called for the adoption of cassava-based ethanol blending in petrol, arguing that it could significantly reduce fuel costs, create jobs for farmers, and help Nigeria save billions of dollars in foreign exchange. The association made the call at a summit held recently in Lagos in collaboration with the US Grains and Bioproducts Council, where industry stakeholders and regulators discussed Nigeria's energy transition using locally sourced biofuel.
Speaking at the event, MEMAN Executive Secretary Clement Isong said the petroleum industry is gradually moving towards a fuel blend containing 10 per cent ethanol and 90 per cent petrol, known as E10. He explained that this would create a huge market for locally produced ethanol, linking the petroleum industry with farmers in a way that has never been done before. "E10 will give companies the demand they are looking for. It will provide the link to the agriculturists and the farmers," Isong said. He stressed that the platform was created to ensure that farmers are aware of the opportunities coming their way and that cassava is positioned to drive this industrial revolution.
Nigeria currently produces about 150 million litres of ethanol from cassava annually, but Isong revealed that the adoption of E10 would require approximately two billion litres per year, given that the country consumes about 20 billion litres of petrol annually. This massive demand gap represents a significant opportunity for cassava farmers, agro-processors, and investors across the agricultural value chain. "So, I see opportunity for farmers, I see opportunity for agro-processing, I see opportunities for my country and my countrymen," Isong declared. He called on the media to help create awareness and demand for ethanol, warning that efforts to promote ethanol blending would fail without a reliable supply chain capable of providing adequate quantities of ethanol.
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has confirmed that the country has moved beyond policy discussions and is now entering the implementation phase of its E10 fuel programme. The Executive Director, Health, Safety, Environment and Community at NMDPRA, Dr Mustapha Lamorde, disclosed that the agency is currently coordinating a pilot programme in Abuja in collaboration with MEMAN, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), NNPC Retail, and other key stakeholders. The pilot will assess fuel quality, storage and distribution logistics, vehicle compatibility, consumer acceptance, and the effectiveness of the regulatory framework. Lamorde said findings from the pilot would provide the technical and regulatory data needed to support informed government decisions before a nationwide rollout of E10 petrol.
The initiative aligns with the Federal Government's broader economic diversification agenda under President Bola Tinubu, which aims to transform cassava from a subsistence crop into a major industrial raw material for bio-ethanol production. The Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning has been scaling up the production of fuel-grade ethanol, with officials projecting annual foreign exchange savings of over N3 trillion from the blending of bioethanol with petrol. The move is expected to lower energy imports, reduce pressure on foreign exchange reserves, and support the stability of the naira through a localised bio-circular economy. Officials have also highlighted that the project would help reduce post-harvest losses in cassava production, which currently account for about 40 per cent inefficiency in the value chain. As Nigeria prepares to launch its E10 pilot programme, the message from MEMAN and its partners is clear: cassava is no longer just a food crop—it is the key to unlocking a cheaper, more sustainable energy future for the nation.
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