Abuja – The Federal Government says it will validate a technical committee report geared toward transiting Nigeria from observer status to full membership of the Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC) in April. Sen. Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, stated this when the council’s mission visited him on Saturday in Abuja. He said the ministry had constituted a technical committee to consider how the country could seamlessly transition from observer to full member of 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 have identified it as an export crop that can drive foreign exchange for the country and ensure good health in terms of consumption. We are also conscious of the fact that we need the support of CPOPC countries to avail the country new varieties of climate‑smart, resistant seeds that can be produced by farmers in the country,” he said.
Mr. Alphonsus Inyang, President of the National Palm Produce Association of Nigeria (NPPAN), said that as a member of CPOPC, Nigeria would target over 10 million tonnes of oil palm production 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 toward a ₦20 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 explore how the country could transition from observer status to full membership, among other objectives. She noted that Nigeria’s status as an observer nation since 2024 would expire in November. Salleh assured the country of the council’s readiness to support its vision to strengthen domestic production, enhance food security, and build a competitive and sustainable palm oil supply chain. She emphasized that full membership would strategically position Nigeria for a greater future in oil palm production and its value chain, as well as exports. According to her, the visit aims 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, empower smallholders, advance sustainability, and ensure fair, science‑based global dialogue on vegetable oils. We are ready to support Nigeria’s vision to strengthen domestic production, enhance food security, and build a competitive and sustainable palm oil supply chain,” she said.
