The Federal Government says it has set its eyes on taking 10 per cent of the global oil palm market in the next six years.
This is even as the government hopes to lift at least two million households out of poverty by creating a viable oil palm industry.
Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi who disclosed all these at the validation meeting with relevant stakeholders to drive oil palm transformation in Nigeria, said the present administration was ready to reposition the Nigerian oil palm industry for food security, rural transformation, industrial growth, job creation, and export diversification.
He said that revitalizing the oil palm sub sector will not only lift about two million Nigerians out of poverty in the next six years but also enable the country to capture at least 10 per cent of the global oil palm market.
According to the Minister, “Oil palm is an industrial raw material that connects agriculture to manufacturing, supports food systems and value addition. It supplies inputs for edible oil, soap, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, animal feed, and many other industrial uses.”
He noted that revitalizing the oil palm sector is not only an agricultural priority, it is also an economic and industrial priority. “If we get it right, oil palm can help Nigeria reduce import dependence, improve domestic edible oil supply, create jobs, support smallholder incomes, strengthen agro-industrial development, and increase export earnings”, he said.
He said that the objective is to restore productivity and competitiveness in a way that is inclusive, environmentally responsible, and economically transformative, moving from aspiration to action.
He lamented Nigeria’s lost glory as one of the leading producers of palm oil in the world, noting that before the rise of petroleum, oil palm sustained livelihoods, drove commerce, supported local industries, and contributed to national revenue.
Senator Aliyu expressed confidence that with Nigeria’s vast land, good climate, market demand, industrial need, and opportunities, the country can reclaim its position in the sector.
“What is required now is vision, discipline, and action”, he said, adding, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s prioritization of agriculture under the Renewed Hope Agenda is not merely an agricultural ambition, but it is a national economic development agenda. “Today is not just about validating a document. It is about shaping the future of one of Nigeria’s most strategic agricultural commodities. It is about agreeing on a clear path forward. It is about ensuring that the oil palm sector once again takes its rightful place in our national development story.”
He called for a coordinated national approach to unlock the oil palm industry’s full potential, citing needs like improved productivity, modernized processing, and enhanced sustainability.
The Minister further stressed the need to empower smallholder farmers with technical training, improved seedlings, climate-resilient planting materials, extension services, and access to finance, calling for investment in modern processing technologies and quality assurance systems to improve value addition and reduce losses.
He underscored the importance of international cooperation, announcing Nigeria’s participation as an Observer Country in the Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC) and emphasized commitment to responsibly grown and sustainably processed palm oil.
In his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, FMAFS, Dr. Marcus Olaniyi Ogunbiyi stated that the process of setting up a Technical Working Group (TWG) to develop a strategy for Nigeria’s oil palm growth was initiated following directives of the Minister of State in 2024.
He added that the Ministry ensured broad-based participation, involving relevant departments, Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR), commodity associations, government organizations, and private sector players to identify gaps and recommend policy actions.
He said, “This multi-stakeholder approach reflects our recognition that the transformation of the oil palm sector requires collective ownership, technical depth, and strong institutional collaboration.”
Ogunbiyi commended stakeholders for their contributions and called on participants to brainstorm, ensuring the final document serves as a roadmap for the transformation of the oil palm industry in Nigeria
In his Goodwill Message, the Chairman, Oil Palm Growers Association of Nigeria, (OPGAN), Chief Joe Onyuike said that Nigeria’s decline from about 40 per cent global dominance to roughly two per cent reflects structural failures, particularly weak coordination and inconsistent policy execution.
He emphasized that smallholders, who represent about 80 per cent of the sector, must be central to implementation, warning that excluding primary producers from decision-making would stall progress.
Also speaking, National President, National Palm Produce Association of Nigeria (NPPAN), Dr Alphonsus Inyang, commended the ministry of Agriculture for carrying smallholder palm producers along.
According to him, the encouragement from the Minister has been a source of inspiration and has given oil palm producers a voice. He promised that smallholder palm producers will take full advantage of the opportunity to improve their production.
Director, Department of Planning and Policy Coordination, Ibrahim Tanimu lauded stakeholders’ commitment to the strategy’s development, emphasizing that the task ahead lies in translating every key recommendation, policy direction, investment priority, and implementation framework into action.