http://www.fmti.gov.ng/departments/investment-promotion-development/156-nigeria-ranks-26th-in-palm-oil-production-ortom.html
By Bolaji O. Kazeem
By Bolaji O. Kazeem
The Honourable Minister of State for Industry Trade and Investment, Dr. Samuel Ortom has said that Nigeria ranks 26th in the world production of palm oil and hardly satisfies her domestic demand.
He made the statement during the stakeholders meeting towards the successful hosting of the 1st International Palm Produce Conference (IPPC) held today in the Ministry’s headquarters , Abuja.
In his address read by the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Dauda Kigbu, Dr. Ortom said that the inability
of meeting local demand in palm oil production was a clear indication
that the fortunes of the Palm Oil Sub-Sector have declined
significantly.
In
his word “It is in this regard, that the National Palm Produce
Association of Nigeria (NPPAN) in collaboration with my Ministry
proposed to organize a conference to serve as a Platform for Interaction
with Stakeholders in the oil Palm Industry globally to review and widen
contacts as well as foster development al strategies to address the
entire Oil Palm value- chain with stakeholders in order to resuscitates
the lost glory of the oil palm industry in Nigeria.
Ortom
said, the conference was coming at a time the Ministry was setting
building blocks in the transformation of the oil palm industry as a
catalyst for economic development and prosperity.
“It is also timely, as the forum intends to send strong signals to investors/Stakeholders of existing opportunities in the palm oil industry in Africa with participation of more than 40 countries worldwide:.
He
reassured the Stakeholders that the ministry will continue to put in
place policies that are needed to facilitate a rapid development of the
commodities sector along the value Chain in order to restore the lost
glory of palm oil industry.
Ortom
urged the stakeholders, Government Agencies, Corporate bodies and
others to contribute generally towards the success of this historic
occasion which will open up new investment opportunities and a roadmap
for tackling the challenges facing the development of the oil palm
industry in Nigeria.
In
his Remarks, the Director, Commodities and Produce Inspectorate, Mr.
Joseph Apanishile charged stakeholders to be committed to the hosting of
the international conference which will serve as an avenue to attract
investments from the large turn out of investors.
He
recalled that Nigeria was before 1965 the world’s largest producer of
palm produce but has ceased to contribute to the world’s export of the
commodity since 1974 except palm kernel.
Earlier,
the President, National Palm Produce Association of Nigeria, Engr.
Henry Olatujoye had pointed out that the Ministry has built a robust
support to the association for the development value chain in the
sector.
According
to him, “Palm Produce is a business in 24 States of the Federation. We
cannot say we have had a synergy of relationship in the area of
cooperation within ourselves to promote and drive the value chain in the
sector and we in the private sector were apart. This conference is
majorly to bring us together to contribute to the process of policy
development by government”.
He
noted that Nigeria produce 1.2 million metric tones which were consumed
locally with local shortage of 700,000 metric tones and participation
in this conference, he said would enable them to exchange ideas and experience to meet local demand.
Bolaji O. Kazeem
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