LAGOS, Nigeria — Nigeria’s downstream petroleum marketers, energy regulators and international development partners have intensified efforts to accelerate domestic ethanol production from cassava, positioning the initiative as a strategy to strengthen energy security, reduce fuel imports and create new opportunities across the country’s agricultural value chain.
The renewed push was highlighted at the “From Farm to Fuel: Understanding the Ethanol-Blended Option” workshop organised by the Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN) in collaboration with the U.S. Grains & Bioproducts Council in Lagos.
Industry stakeholders said Nigeria currently produces about 150 million litres of ethanol annually, far below the estimated 2 billion litres required each year if the country adopts E10 petrol, a fuel blend containing 90% gasoline and 10% ethanol.
Nigeria consumes approximately 20 billion litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) annually, meaning a nationwide E10 programme would require around 2 billion litres of ethanol, creating a significant opportunity for local agricultural production, particularly cassava.
MEMAN: E10 Could Drive Economic Growth and Agricultural Industrialisation
Speaking at the workshop, MEMAN’s Chief Executive Officer and Executive Secretary, Clement Isong, said adopting ethanol-blended petrol would unlock substantial economic opportunities for Nigeria while addressing persistent post-harvest losses suffered by cassava farmers.
According to Isong, converting surplus cassava into fuel-grade ethanol would create a new market for farmers, stimulate rural economies and encourage investments across agriculture, processing and logistics.
He noted that expanding ethanol production would not only strengthen Nigeria’s energy supply chain but also support industrial development and job creation throughout the agricultural value chain.
NMDPRA Says Nigeria Moves From Policy to Implementation
The Executive Director, Health, Safety, Environment and Community at the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Dr. Mustapha Lamorde, said Nigeria has moved beyond policy discussions and is entering the implementation phase of its E10 fuel programme.
Lamorde described ethanol blending as a globally established solution that supports cleaner transportation fuels, improves energy security and contributes to lower greenhouse gas emissions.
He said the initiative aligns with Nigeria’s broader energy transition objectives by reducing dependence on conventional fossil fuels while promoting locally sourced renewable fuel alternatives.
According to him, countries across North America, South America, Europe and Asia have successfully integrated ethanol-blended fuels into their transportation systems, delivering environmental, economic and energy security benefits.
National E10 Pilot Programme Nears Launch
Lamorde disclosed that the NMDPRA is coordinating Nigeria’s National E10 Pilot Programme in partnership with MEMAN, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), NNPC Retail, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and other public and private sector stakeholders.
He said preparations for the pilot programme are at an advanced stage.
The pilot, expected to commence in Abuja upon completion of final implementation activities, will assess key operational areas including:
- Fuel quality and technical specifications.
- Storage, transportation and distribution logistics.
- Vehicle compatibility.
- Infrastructure readiness.
- Consumer acceptance.
- Operational safety.
- Environmental performance.
- 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.
Cassava Industry Could Benefit From Rising Ethanol Demand
Stakeholders at the workshop said expanding ethanol production could significantly increase demand for cassava, one of Nigeria’s most widely cultivated crops, while reducing post-harvest waste that continues to affect farmers’ incomes.
Beyond supporting the fuel sector, they said a domestic ethanol industry could stimulate investment in biofuel processing plants, create employment opportunities across farming and manufacturing, diversify Nigeria’s energy mix and strengthen local supply chains.
The participants also noted that successful implementation would require sustained government policy support, robust technical standards, consumer awareness campaigns and continued collaboration between regulators, fuel marketers, agricultural producers and development partners.
Regulatory Commitment
Lamorde reaffirmed the regulator’s commitment to ensuring that ethanol blending is introduced through a transparent and technically sound process.
He said the NMDPRA would continue working with industry stakeholders to ensure that the deployment of E10 fuel meets international safety, quality and environmental standards while delivering long-term economic benefits for Nigeria.
According to him, the pilot programme represents a critical milestone in the transformation of Nigeria’s downstream petroleum industry and could lay the foundation for the country’s first nationwide ethanol-blended petrol programme.
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