Di Raw Materials Research and Development Council, RMRDC, don project say di proposed 30 per cent mandatory value addition to Nigerian raw materials before export fit generate more than 1.2 million skilled jobs within five years.

Di council talk say di proposed measure go also promote import substitution, conserve foreign exchange and strengthen local manufacturing.

Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of RMRDC, Prof. Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso, disclose dis one for Abuja at a briefing ahead of di second Africa Raw Materials Summit, ARMS 2026.

Di summit, wey dem schedule for October 19 and 20 at di Abuja Continental Hotel, get as im theme, "From African Feedstock to African Factories."

Ike-Muonso note say di proposed Raw Materials 30% Mandatory Value Addition Bill dey seek to establish a statutory minimum of 30 per cent domestic value addition to Nigerian raw materials before export. He talk say di bill dey await presidential assent.

According to RMRDC, di projected job creation na one of di expected benefits of implementing di proposed legislation, wey form part of efforts to shift Nigeria from exporting low-value primary commodities to higher-value industrial production.

Di council also urge Nigeria to process im over $582.4 billion worth of documented non-renewable natural resources locally to boost manufacturing and create additional economic opportunities.

Ike-Muonso talk say Africa must move away from di "pit-to-port" model, where dem dey export raw materials while dem dey import finished products at higher costs.

"What dem extract from African soil must increasingly be transformed on African soil," he talk.

He talk say ARMS 2026 go attract more than 1,800 delegates from all 54 African countries, alongside investors, manufacturers, technology companies and other industrial stakeholders.