Abuja: The Federal Government has announced plans to validate a technical committee report in April, paving the way for Nigeria’s transition from observer status to full membership of the Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC), a move aimed at strengthening its role in the global palm oil market.
Sen. Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, said this when the council’s mission visited him on Saturday in Abuja.
He said that the ministry had constituted a technical committee to consider how the country would seamlessly transition from observer status to membership in the CPOPC, given its strategic importance in palm oil production.
“We are conscious of the fact that the palm oil value chain is very strategic for us and identified it as an export crop that can drive foreign exchange for the country and ensure good health in terms of consumption.
“We are conscious of the fact that we need the support of CPOPC countries to provide the country with a new variety of seeds that are climate-smart and resistant so that they can be produced by farmers in the country,” he said.
Mr Alphonsus Inyang, President, National Palm Produce Association of Nigeria (NPPAN), said being a member of CPOPC Nigeria would target over 10 million tonnes of oil palm between 2026 and 2050.
“We are also targeting 2.5 million hectares from among Nigerian households who are out to produce one hectare each, geared towards a N20 trillion annual economy within this period.
“We are working side by side with the big players who will be developing plantations,” he said.
The Secretary-General of CPOPC, Izzana Salleh, said the council’s mission to Nigeria was to assess how the country could transition from observer status to full membership, among other objectives.
She said that the country’s status as an observer nation since 2024 would expire by November.
Salleh assured the country of the council’s readiness to support
Its vision is to strengthen domestic production, enhance food security, and build a competitive, sustainable palm oil supply chain.
Izzana emphasised that being a member of the council would strategically position Nigeria for a brighter future in oil palm production.
According to her, the visit is to strengthen the council’s engagement with Nigeria
including potential membership in CPOPC.
She said: “The aim of the council’s mission to Nigeria is to advance both Nigeria’s national ambitions and Africa’s collective voice in global agricultural discussions.
CPOPC was established to promote cooperation among producing nations. It also aims to empower smallholders, support sustainability, and ensure a fair, science-based global dialogue on vegetable oils.
She emphasised that being a member of the council would strategically position the country for greater future prospects in oil palm production and the value chain. “We are ready to help Nigeria build a strong palm oil industry, improve food security, and create a competitive, sustainable supply chain.”
