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Rivers State is taking decisive steps to recapture its leading position in the Nigerian oil palm industry by adopting a traceability policy aligned with European Union (EU) standards. This move follows communications from the EU bloc identifying Nigeria as a potential major source of palm oil, provided the industry can effectively tackle the persistent challenge of product adulteration and ensure a clear distinction between high-quality and substandard oil.
Led by Erasmus Chukunda, the Rivers State chapter of the Oil Palm Growers Association of Nigeria (OPGAN) is working in synergy with the state’s Ministry of Agriculture to implement this framework. The primary objective is to bridge the massive consumption-production gap in Nigeria, currently estimated at approximately N950 billion. To kickstart this process, OPGAN recently organized a specialized training session at the NSPRI facility in Port Harcourt to educate members on international standards and the rigorous requirements of the EU market.
Representing the Ministry of Agriculture, Sunday Agada, Director of Agriculture, emphasized that the national palm oil traceability framework is designed to strengthen domestic production and drastically cut annual imports, which currently exceed $600 million. Agada clarified that the government’s role remains focused on policy-making and creating an enabling environment rather than direct production. This strategy aims to protect the livelihoods of smallholder farmers, who constitute nearly 90% of the sector's workforce and rely on crop income for their survival.
On the technical front, the initiative promotes the use of hybrid Tenera seedlings, a cross-breed of Dura and Pisifera varieties known for producing superior oil quality. Industry leaders noted that the Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR) has significantly improved its breeding processes, drawing parallels with Malaysia’s success in refining palm oil quality through selective cross-breeding. Recent improvements in NIFOR seedlings have resulted in fewer hard nuts and higher oil yields, essential for meeting export-grade criteria.
Addressing the critical issue of market integrity, a 12-member committee has been established to fight adulteration. This task force, which includes the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has the mandate to impound contaminated products. Officials warned that adulterated oils, often mixed with dyes or substances that cause them to solidify at room temperature, pose severe health risks such as arterial plaque. The new traceability system will monitor the entire supply chain, from fruit bunch sourcing to processing timelines, to ensure consumer safety.
Furthermore, Rivers State is revitalizing major estates like the Bori Highland Palm in Ogoni to serve as transformation centers. Under the planned logistics chain, raw palm fruit from various local axes will be processed at these centers before being moved to a major hub in Kano for local distribution or international export. The government has also engaged with SIAT, the Belgian firm operating the Rivers State Oil Palm (RISONPALM) venture, to ensure a percentage of their high-quality production is reserved for local consumption, reducing the state's dependence on substandard external supplies.
Source: Businessday NG