RMRDC Unveils Upgraded Database For Real-Time Raw Materials Information

The Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC)has launched an upgraded national raw materials database designed to provide real-time data on Nigeria’s resource base, strengthen industrial planning, and improve investment decision-making.
The announcement was made in April during a media parley, where the Director-General of RMRDC, Prof. Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso, described the platform as a major milestone in Nigeria’s effort to build a data-driven industrial economy.
He said the new system—formally known as the Nigerian Statistical Information System for Products, Raw Materials and Products—represents a significant upgrade from earlier versions of the council’s raw materials information framework.
The Director-General explained that the earlier Raw Materials Management Information System, built from a nationwide survey of raw materials, provided a strong foundation but was limited by poor integration, lack of dynamism, and weak alignment with global classification systems.
“Shortly after its development, we realised it had limitations. It was not well aligned with the HS code, it was static, and it did not allow integration with other databases,” he said.
According to him, the upgraded platform now integrates with major national and international data institutions, including the Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigerian Geological Survey Agency, Nigeria Customs Service, and the National Bureau of Statistics, as well as 16 internal RMRDC databases.
He added that the system would provide real-time insights into the availability, quality, and characteristics of raw materials across different parts of the country, supporting pricing and investment decisions.
Ike-Muonso noted that Nigeria’s push for a centralised raw materials database is driven by longstanding challenges such as fragmented resource data, import dependency, and limited industrial utilisation of locally available materials.
He also stressed that the database goes beyond conventional raw materials, incorporating agricultural produce, mineral deposits, and waste streams.
“Waste is not waste. Waste is an asset. Once properly harnessed through recycling and reuse, it becomes very valuable,” he said.
He, however, noted that the system cannot yet fully quantify all raw materials nationwide due to technological limitations but provides structured estimates for known deposits and emerging resource streams.
The RMRDC boss further explained that the platform is designed to support Nigeria’s industrial policy direction, particularly the 30 per cent value addition requirement for raw material exports.