Nasarawa Governor Commissions Africa’s Largest Cassava Factory

Sequoia Holdings Ltd has commissioned a 10,000-hectare integrated Cassava Industrial City (SCIC) in Kokona, Nasarawa State, marking a significant milestone in Nigeria’s agro-industrial development and large-scale cassava value chain expansion.

The project, commissioned by the state governor, Engr. Abdullahi Sule, positions Nasarawa as an emerging hub for cassava processing and agro-industrial investment in Nigeria. The ceremony drew participation from financial institutions, agribusiness leaders, policymakers, and representatives of the National Cassava Growers Association.

Valued at over N30 billion, the Sequoia Cassava Industrial City is structured as a vertically integrated agricultural and industrial ecosystem spanning large-scale cassava cultivation, aggregation, processing, and value addition. The 10,000-hectare development will support structured farming operations alongside modern processing infrastructure for ethanol production, industrial starch processing, and other cassava derivatives.

Speaking during the commissioning ceremonies, chairman of Sequoia Holdings, Cheta Udezue, described the project as a strategic transition from commodity farming to industrial agriculture in Nigeria.

He said, agriculture in Nigeria must evolve from subsistence production to integrated industrial systems. The Sequoia Cassava Industrial City is designed as a complete ecosystem — from soil to processing — enabling scale, efficiency, and long-term value creation. This is how we build sustainable agro-industrial capacity in Africa.”

Unlike traditional cassava farming clusters, the SCIC model integrates primary agricultural production with on-site industrial processing capacity. By combining cultivation and processing within a single industrial platform, Sequoia Holdings aims to reduce post-harvest losses, improve efficiency, and deepen cassava value addition in Nigeria, he added.”

The project includes: Structured cassava cultivation across 10,000 hectares, A centralised processing complex for ethanol and starch production a structured outgrower integration framework, export-oriented industrial outputs and supporting infrastructure for long-term agro-industrial operations.

According to him this landmark integrated value chain model strengthens Nigeria’s cassava processing capacity while aligning with national goals around food security, import substitution, and industrial diversification.

A core pillar of the Sequoia Cassava Industrial City is its community-linked outgrower model. The project is expected to integrate over 500 outgrower farmers from host communities, with a minimum target of 80 per cent women’s participation.

By combining industrial-scale agriculture with structured rural inclusion, the initiative supports women’s empowerment, rural economic development, and the expansion of sustainable livelihoods across Nasarawa State.

Similarly, Governor Abdullahi Sule commended the initiative, noting that the project aligns with Nasarawa State’s agro-industrial transformation agenda and its public-private partnership framework, both aimed at attracting large-scale agricultural investment into the state.

Nigeria is one of the world’s largest producers of cassava. However, a significant portion of industrial derivatives, such as ethanol and industrial starch, is still imported.

The Sequoia Cassava Industrial City is positioned to expand domestic processing capacity, reduce reliance on imports, and improve Nigeria’s competitiveness in agro-industrial exports. The project is also expected to generate thousands of direct and indirect jobs, strengthen rural livelihoods, and contribute to broader economic growth.

By consolidating production, processing, and structured farmer integration within a single 10,000-hectare industrial platform, Sequoia Holdings aims to establish a scalable model for cassava industrialisation in Nigeria and across Africa.

Sequoia Holdings is a diversified investment and industrial development group focused on building scalable ecosystems across agriculture, infrastructure, and value-chain-driven sectors in Nigeria and Africa. Through long-term partnerships and integrated operational models, the company advances sustainable industrial growth and agro-industrial transformation.