Nutrition Security: Nigeria targets 10 metric tonnes for ‘self-sufficiency’ in palm oil by 2050

*The National Palm Produce Association of Nigeria projects the West African country will be self-sufficient, create wealth, and meet its global market share of oil palm by 2050

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

As Nigeria intensifies efforts at effectively implementing National Oil Palm Development Strategy, the National Palm Produce Association of Nigeria (NPPAN) has said the country will be self-sufficient and meet its global market share of oil palm by 2050.

Mr. Alphonsus Inyang, National President of NPPAN, said this during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on the sidelines of National Oil Palm Development Strategy Validation Meeting.

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Inyang noted that with the guideline, Nigeria’s current production capacity of 1.4metric tonnes to 1.5metric tonnes annually, would increase to nine metric tonnes, or 10 metric tonnes between now and 2050.

The NPPAN Chief, who doubles as the Vice-Chairman of the Technical Working Group for the development of the National Oil Palm Development Strategy, emphasised that the feat would be achieved by empowering Smallholder Farmers (SHFs) to enhance production.

According to him, the country intended to extend oil palm production to Taraba, Niger and Kogi States under the National Oil Palm Development Strategy framework.

Leveraging some Northern states, among other interventions, is part of the ways to achieve the 2050 self-sufficiency and global market targets, said he.

Inyang explained: “Taraba with 69,000 square kilometres land is well placed to cultivate oil palm trees than the whole southern part of the country.

“Taraba State has a longer sunshine than Southern Nigeria; it also has water in some parts.

“So those are the things we are going to leverage. Niger State too has areas that can produce oil palm, Kogi also.”

On Nigeria’s rating in oil palm producing country globally

Inyang also revealed that the national strategy roadmap for the sub-sector was designed to reposition the country as a major player in the industry at the global level, agency report said.

He said that the framework would encapsulate the establishment of a National Oil Palm Council (NOPC), an Oil Palm Development Fund and a National Smallholders Development Fund.

According to him, Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR) would be transitioned into a Nigerian Oil Palm Board to oversee research, development and innovation in the sector.

Inyang, however, frowned on the rating of the country as number five oil palm producing country globally.

He further said: “We are number one palm oil producing country in Africa, number one importer, exporter and number one consumer.

“We produce more, we import more, we consume more and we export more than any other country in Africa.”

The National Chairman of NPPAN as well attributed poor investment and growth in the sector over the years to the absence of a clear governance architecture and structure.

Inyang said that the gap led to a fragmented system without central regulatory authority to guide investors.

Inyang stated: “Governance architecture and governance structure are key to drive the sector.

“The strategy will have a structured governance architecture similar to what is obtainable in Malaysia and Indonesia, the leading oil palm-producing countries.”

He also hinted “there will be a structured governance architecture that will be formed by the strategy with the oil palm development fund to manage 25 percent of tariffs that are being collected for palm oil among other funds that will be generated.

“With the development of the framework, government has created an enabling environment to support growth in the sector.

“Therefore, private sector players and investors should take advantage of the new policy framework.”

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