Nigeria moves to rejoin global palm oil leaders as imports hit $600m

Nigeria witnessed a decision step toward reviving her palm oil sector as the Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC) delegation from Malaysia and Indonesia engaged Nigeria’s economic and agricultural officials in talks aimed at curbing the Country’s $600 million annual palm oil import bill, boosting domestic production and positioning Nigeria for full membership in the CPOPC.

The high-level delegation met with the ministers of Foreign Affairs and Agriculture and Food Security, respectively.

With Nigeria consuming an estimated 2.5–3 million metric tonnes of palm oil annually, but producing only about 1.4 million tonnes, the import deficit is a significant drain on foreign exchange and exposes the economy to global price volatility.

The engagement highlighted Nigeria’s strategic intention to reassert itself as a leading palm oil producer and secure full CPOPC membership.

Izzana Salleh, Secretary-General, CPOPC, said “Nigeria is an observer country to our council, but as new leaders in the council, we’ve recently come in in the month of June of last year.

“The observer status for Nigeria, which started at the end of 2024, will end in November 2026 this year. And before that happens, we want to make sure that there is a transition, a good transition that happens from observership to member status. And we come here with our hearts and arms wide open”, she said

According to Izzana “A lot of what we do, we begin with the diplomatic engagements, we set up several meetings in Indonesia, in Brussels, in Kuala Lumpur, to bring this conversations right down to private technical pillars.”

Izzana while noting that the engagement with Nigeria is not transactional but strategic, said, “We see Nigeria as a key partner in advancing sustainable palm oil development across Africa.”

“We are open to structured collaboration that strengthens our domestic industry while expanding trade opportunities.”

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Also speaking, Alphonsus Inyang, National President, National Palm Produce Association of Nigeria (NPPAN), underscored Nigeria’s potential, saying: “I’ve been working with the CPOPC in Nigeria since 2019

“I strongly believe that Nigeria, being the fifth largest producer, we can work with the council to see that we regain the glory of the oil palm sector.”

He cited Nigeria’s market position, adding: “Nigeria is the largest producer in Africa, 1.4 million tonnes, the largest consumer, 3.2 million tonnes, and also the largest exporter of oil palm in Africa”.

Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, highlighted government actions and targets. “Palm oil is central to Nigeria’s food security and agro industrial agenda. Beyond domestic consumption, it offers immense potential for job creation, rural income growth and foreign exchange earnings”, he said

He recalled that they had set up a technical committee to look into how seamlessly they would transit from the observer status to membership. “Since 2024, we have worked tirelessly through 14 meetings with stakeholders from all over the country, and even the embassies of Indonesia and Malaysia were part of the discussions.

“By April 2026, we are going to have the National Validation at the Banquet Hall of the State House and you will push out in the President’s house for the launching immediately after the validation one week after the validation, so that Nigeria will now be on the livestream of palm oil production”, he added.

The minister stressed production challenges and opportunities, which he said, included access to high-yielding planting materials.

He noted that the economic implications is the fact that Nigeria currently spends $600 million annually on palm oil imports, adding that bridging the production gap, through improved yields, smallholder support, and private sector engagement, could: save hundreds of millions in foreign exchange, create thousands of rural jobs, expand agro- processing and value-added production.

The Abuja meetings marked a renewed commitment by Nigeria to reclaim its historic role in global palm oil production while reducing dependence on imports and promoting sustainable growth across the value chain.

Ruth Tene Natsa

Ruth Tene, Assistant Editor, Agric/Solid Minerals/INEC Ruth Tene is an award-winning journalist with over 15 years experience in developmental reporting across several newsrooms, as a reporter, editor and other managerial roles. She holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism from the University of Maiduguri among several other certifications She has attended several trainings and certifications both locally and internationally and has been recognized for her impactful work in humanitarian reporting, receiving the Gold Award for Humanitarian Services from the Amazing Grace Foundation. She is also a recipient of the Home Alliance Fellowship, reflecting her commitment to fostering a more humane, safer and more sustainable planet. An active member of professional journalism bodies, Ruth is affiliated with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), and the Agricultural Correspondents Association of Nigeria (ACAN), where she continues to advocate for excellence, ethical reporting, and development-focused journalism.