The National Palm Produce Association of Nigeria (NPPAN) has urged the Federal Government to evolve more aggressive national policies to boost oil palm production in the country.
Amb. Alphonsus Inyang, National President, NPPAN, spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja ahead of the first anniversary of President Bola Tinubu administration coming up on May 29.
He said that such policies would help activate or actualise Federal Government’s agenda on food security emergency declaration.
Iyang, while assessing Tinubu’s one-year performance in the sector in line with the “Renewed Hope Agenda”, said that the sector had yet to receive any formidable policy.
He said that ensuring food security as declared by Tinubu would be fruitless without prioritising the oil palm.
Inyang, who identified palm oil as central to the nation’s economy, said that it contributed between 80 per cent and 100 per cent oil and fat requirements in Nigeria.
According to him, foods such as noodles, butter, bread, confectionery, make -up, industrial products like detergent, soap, body cream, cosmetics among others would not progress without oil palm.
“Palm oil needs to be looked into as a matter of national priority if declaration of emergency on food security will be a success or sustained.
“For the nation to secure the future of rice, oil palm is key because one cannot eat rice, beans or prepare soup without palm oil, nobody fries garri without palm oil.
“Since inception of Tinubu’s administration, there has been a lot of talk about food security but government is yet to reach out to us or articulate any policy to boost the industry.
“We have made several efforts to engage the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security on this issue but to no avail,” he said.
The president said it was important to promote the industry which he identified as providing millions of jobs to Malaysians, Indonesia, Thailand, Colombia, among others.
He said that the industry made Nigeria the hallmark in the 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s, adding that such height could be sustained by giving the industry the needed attention.
“This industry is central to all our foods; there is no food you prepare in this country without palm oil or vegetable oil,” he said.
Inyang commended the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite, for authorising a national study tour in six oil producing states of Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Abia, Imo, Edo and Ondo.
He said the gesture was to ascertain the situation on ground in the areas of processing and marketing, adding that the ministry was not involved in primary production.
According to him, the ministry sees palm oil as a major stake in the economy.
“So, we are expecting same efforts from the ministry of agriculture and various state governments who have comparative advantage in oil palm,’’ he said.(NAN)
