Data as the New Oil: Nigeria Unveils Platform to Power Industrial Growth
By Matthew Eloyi
In a move that underscores the growing importance of data in economic transformation, the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) has launched a new digital platform designed to reshape how Nigeria understands and harnesses its vast raw materials base.
Unveiled in Abuja on Tuesday, the Nigerian Information Statistical System for Raw Materials and Products (NISSRAMP) is being positioned as a game changer—one that could bridge long-standing information gaps that have limited investment and slowed industrial growth.
For decades, investors, policymakers and manufacturers in Nigeria have navigated a fragmented and often unreliable data landscape. Information about the availability, location and quality of raw materials has been scattered, outdated or, in many cases, simply unavailable. The result has been missed opportunities, inefficient planning and a sluggish pace of industrialisation.
Director-General of RMRDC, Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso, believes the new platform changes that narrative fundamentally.
“NISSRAMP comes as a breath of fresh air for investors, policymakers and industry operators who until now navigated a fragmented landscape with no unified repository of information.
“Before this initiative, stakeholders operated in the dark, there was no single source of truth regarding the availability, location, production capacity, or quality of raw materials across the country.
“Decision-making was often based on incomplete or outdated information, hindering investment and slowing industrial growth,’’ he said.
At its core, NISSRAMP is more than a repository of data. It is a dynamic, integrated system designed to provide real-time insights into Nigeria’s raw materials ecosystem. From production capacity to geographic distribution, the platform offers a comprehensive view intended to guide smarter decisions across both the public and private sectors.
“It provides real-time information on profiling, production capacity, location and availability,” Ike-Muonso said.
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The ambition is clear: to empower stakeholders with credible, up-to-date data that can unlock investment opportunities, support evidence-based policymaking and ultimately accelerate industrial development.
Behind the platform lies a network of institutional collaboration. According to Cypril Chinweyi, Deputy Director of Statistics and Data Analysis at RMRDC, NISSRAMP draws from a wide range of sources, creating a unified and constantly updated system.
“By linking databases from the Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigerian Geological Survey Agency, the Customs and over 16 other institutions, NISSRAMP creates a holistic view of the raw material ecosystem.
“This dynamic approach replaces the old static methods, ensuring data is always current and compliant with global HS Codes and Nigerian raw material standards,” he said.
One of the platform’s most strategic features is its alignment with government policy on local value addition. By tracking production and processing patterns, NISSRAMP is expected to help enforce the Federal Government’s requirement that at least 30 per cent of raw materials be processed locally before export.
“It will help ensure compliance with the 30 per cent value addition requiremen0; this is crucial for retaining wealth within the economy and creating jobs,’’ Chinweyi said.
For a country seeking to reduce its dependence on raw exports and build a more resilient industrial base, this could prove significant. Local processing not only creates jobs but also retains more value within the economy—an objective long pursued but unevenly achieved.
Importantly, the platform is not limited to government use. It is open to researchers, entrepreneurs and businesses seeking reliable data for planning, pricing and investment decisions.
“It is accessible, easy to use and promises to foster inclusive industrial growth,’’ Chinweyi said.
The system’s technological backbone also reflects a forward-looking approach. Designed by consultant Abidemi Adesina, NISSRAMP incorporates data analytics and artificial intelligence to ensure efficiency, security and adaptability in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
“By turning information into actionable insight, the RMRDC has laid a solid foundation for a more transparent, efficient and prosperous future,” he said.
As Nigeria positions itself as a potential industrial hub in Africa, initiatives like NISSRAMP highlight a critical shift in thinking: that data, much like oil once was, is now a central driver of economic power.
Whether the platform will fully deliver on its promise remains to be seen. But for now, it signals a decisive step toward a more informed, coordinated and data-driven approach to harnessing the nation’s abundant natural resources.
