NPPAN sets sights on northern Nigeria for large-scale oil palm farming projects

Nigeria is poised to reclaim its position as a leading global producer of palm oil, with the National Palm Produce Association of Nigeria, NPPAN, set to launch large-scale oil palm cultivation and plantations in northern Nigeria, according to a recent announcement.

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The disclosure was made by the President of NPPAN, Dr Alphonsus Inyang, during a discussion on the 'Validation Meeting of the Nigerian Oil Palm Development Strategy', aimed at revitalizing the nation's oil palm subsector.

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Dr Inyang revealed that Taraba State is already working in partnership with the Association to become a major hub for oil palm production, leveraging its vast land area of over 69,000 square kilometers, which surpasses that of southern Nigeria.

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Taraba State's favorable climate, with longer sunshine hours than southern Nigeria, as well as access to water in certain areas, are key factors that will be utilized to drive oil palm production in the state, according to Dr Inyang.

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The NPPAN President emphasized that the Association will capitalize on these advantages to expand oil palm production, and also noted that Niger State, Kogi, and other savannah states have similar terrain suitable for oil palm cultivation.

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Dr Inyang explained that expanding into these northern states is crucial to achieving the targets of the Nigerian Oil Palm Development Strategy, as limiting production to the southern region would hinder progress, and stated that the focus will be on Niger, Kogi, Nasarawa, and Taraba states.