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Nigeria Targets Global Palm Oil Dominance with 1.5m Hectare Replanting Initiative
Nigeria’s Oil Palm Growers Association (OPGAN) has launched a bold initiative to rejuvenate the country’s oil palm industry by replanting 1.5 million hectares of land over the next five years. The effort is outlined in the newly unveiled Oil Palm Development Strategy for Nigeria 2024–2029, which aims to elevate Nigeria’s global ranking in palm oil production from fifth to third.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
According to OPGAN President Joe Onyiuke, this strategy represents a major milestone — the first time a commodity association in Nigeria has developed a detailed and sector-specific growth plan. The strategy emphasizes sustainable practices, investment in modern technologies, inclusive growth models, and coordinated stakeholder engagement.
Onyiuke stressed that the sector has long lacked a cohesive framework, despite being pivotal to Nigeria’s agricultural economy. “This blueprint marks a shift in direction — a game-changing effort to address inefficiencies, reduce market volatility, and implement achievable growth targets,” he said during a presentation in Abuja.
The strategy seeks to close a significant production gap. Nigeria, while the largest consumer of palm oil in Africa, currently produces just 1.02 million metric tonnes (MT) of fats and oils, far short of the 3 million MT it consumes. To climb to third place globally—surpassing Thailand’s 2.7 million MT—Nigeria must increase production by 3.38 million MT, requiring nearly 966,000 hectares of new cultivation by 2029.
Abdullahi G. Abubakar, Director at the Federal Department of Agriculture, expressed strong support from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security. He praised the OPGAN initiative, noting that it aligns with national objectives for food security and agricultural transformation.
“This strategy is a shining example of what’s possible through collaboration,” Abubakar said. “We encourage other commodity associations to emulate this approach and take proactive steps in developing similar growth plans.”
The plan also identifies key challenges — including outdated land use practices and fragmented industry efforts — and provides actionable solutions. OPGAN calls on all stakeholders including government agencies, private investors, research institutions, and local communities to actively support the initiative.
Beyond improving local production and reducing import dependence, the strategy also promises broader socio-economic benefits such as job creation, rural development, and poverty alleviation.
This strategic roadmap is seen as a timely response to the absence of a national blueprint, with the potential to transform Nigeria into a global palm oil powerhouse by 2029.
Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, says the state has mapped out 22,435 hectares of degraded land for restoration under the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project using modern geospatial mapping technology.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
He said the initiative is part of efforts to strengthen climate resilience, tackle environmental degradation, and promote sustainable land use in the state.
Speaking at the ACReSAL mid-term review meeting in Kaduna through the Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Abubakar Buba, the governor explained that the use of geospatial tools has made it possible to accurately identify affected areas for targeted intervention.
He added that the project is not only focused on land recovery but also on boosting agricultural output and improving livelihoods in affected communities.
Sani also noted that the state is supporting the programme with empowerment initiatives, including training over 500 women, youths, and school feeding vendors in biomass briquette production.
According to him, the effort is already helping to reduce dependence on firewood while creating alternative sources of income for beneficiaries.
President Tinubu has given full backing for the implementation of the ₦68.32 trillion 2026 budget after signing the Appropriation Bill passed by the National Assembly into law.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
He also approved an amendment extending the lifespan of the 2025 budget from March 31 to June 30, 2026, to ensure completion of ongoing capital projects nationwide.
Under the 2026 fiscal plan, ₦4.799 trillion is set aside for statutory transfers, ₦15.8 trillion for debt servicing, ₦15.4 trillion for recurrent spending, while ₦32.2 trillion goes to capital projects—about half of the total budget.
The focus, according to the administration, is on infrastructure development, security, and growth-driven investments aimed at improving living standards.
Speaking on the development, presidential aide Bayo Onanuga said the extension of the 2025 budget will help ensure full use of allocated funds, especially for major ongoing projects.
Tinubu directed all ministries, departments, and agencies to ensure transparency, discipline, and value-for-money in implementing the budget, while praising the National Assembly for its swift passage of the bill.
He also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to economic reforms, revenue growth, job creation, and social welfare improvements.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State has described moves to prosecute former Senate President Bukola Saraki and former Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed over alleged culpable homicide as an attempt to reopen the 2018 Offa robbery tragedy for political purposes.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
In a statement on Friday, the party’s spokesperson, Olusegun Adewara, said the development is a disturbing and dangerous politicisation of a case they claim has already been addressed through judicial processes.
He warned against dragging the state into fresh tension, accusing the state government of attempting to revive old allegations for political advantage.
Adewara said the PDP would not remain silent while what he called “political narratives” are used to influence public perception around a tragic incident that claimed multiple lives in Offa in 2018.
He also urged residents, especially affected families, not to allow their pain to be used for political gains, insisting it is unjust to associate Saraki with the crime.
The party further alleged that the move is aimed at distracting attention from governance challenges in the state.
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