Business

Association Urges Investment In Palm Produce

Published

13 years ago

March 11, 2013

The National President, National Palm Produce Association of Nigeria (NPPAN), Mr Henry Olatujoye, has called on investors to invest in palm produce.

Olatujoye made the call at the Palm Produce Pre-Conference Stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja, recently with about 45 stakeholders in attendance from across the country.

He said that the meeting was in preparation for the forthcoming international conference being organised by the Ministry of Trade and Investment in collaboration with the association.

He noted that the objective of the conference which would hold in the second quarter of 2013, was to expose the potential the palm produce industry to the world.

He expressed regret that Nigeria was not maximising its investment potential in the palm tree.

According to him, the palm oil tree is to West Africa, adding that the oil has been traditionally used as food, medicine, woven material and wine.

He added that palm oil was the largest world supplier of fat and oil and possessed the capacity to be processed into several derivatives than any other oil plants.

He recalled that Nigeria had maintained a leading position in global production and export of palm oil in the early 1950s and 60s and expressed regret that the situation had not been the same currently.

According to him, Nigeria, which used to be the leading palm oil producing country in the world, is now in the seventh position after losing its position to Indonesia.

He said that Indonesia was able to attain its present position because it had the biggest rate of increase in terms of forest converted into palm oil plantation.

“At present, Indonesia and Malaysia contribute about 85 per cent of the total world palm oil needs.’’

Olatujoye said that Nigeria, with about six million hectares available for palm plantation, could compete with Indonesia and Malaysia, if efforts were geared toward progressive investment in the palm produce industry.

He observed that Nigeria was spending so much money on palm oil importation and therefore, boosting the economy of those countries.

He said that the association, formed 17 years ago, had yet to record any meaningful success, due mainly to the government’s inability to mobilise the private sector in plantation development.

He listed other challenges confronting the association as funding and inconsistency in policies on palm oil development programmes.

Olatujoye said that the major objective of the association was to bring together all those in palm oil cultivation, production, research, processing, marketing, sales, purchase and development of palm produce in the country.

He said the other objectives were to promote order and discipline in palm oil production, trade and commerce in the industry.

He said affiliating and co-operating with other national and international associations involved in the production, research and development, commerce and export trade of the produce also formed part of its objectives.

In her remarks, Mrs Omololu Ope-ewe, the Deputy Director, Commodities, Ministry of Trade and Investment, said that the forthcoming international conference would focus on sensitising investors on the enormous investment opportunities embedded in palm produce.

According to her, the conference with the theme : ‘’Bringing back the lost glory of palm oil industry in Nigeria’’ is in line with the Agricultural Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan.

She advised the association to show more commitment and dedication in the discharge of its responsibilities and liaise with the government to move the palm oil industry forward.

“I can assure you that in the true spirit of Public Private Partnership, the government will give you all the necessary support and encouragement.

“The government will also provide the enabling environment for the conference to succeed in order to attain global recognition of our great palm oil sub-sector in Nigeria,’’ she said.

Business

Agency Gives Insight Into Its Inspection, Monitoring Operations

Published

4 days ago

January 12, 2026

The Tide

The Director, South South Zone National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Pharmacist Chujwuma P.Oligbu has said its thorough implementation of its core mandate of monitoring has no link with witch-hunting or fault finding as perceived at some quarters.

Oligbu, made this known when he spoke as as guest at the maiden Rivers state Supermarkets stakeholders’ Seminar/Workshop in Port Harcourt recently.

Rather, he said they were mere opportunities for education, correction and continuous improvement.

The Agency’s South South Boss, noted that Supermarket operators who maintain transparent records, cooperate during inspections, and promptly address identified gaps demonstrate professionalism and commitment to public health standard.

He listed the deserving essence of supermarket operation to include the key aspects of supermarket operation that deserves emphasis is product sourcing.

“Supermarkets must ensure that all regulated products stocked on their shelves are duly registered with NAFDAC and sourced from legitimate manufacturers or distributors”, he said .

According to him, the presence of unregistered, expired, counterfeit, or improper labelled products undermines consumer confidence and poses serious health risks.

He pointed out that such has the likelihood of exposeing supermarket operators to legal sanctions that could damage their reputation and financial stability.

The NAFDAC Operator, further enlightened the participants that mere registration of a particular product with the Federal agency do not guarantee absolute consumption safety.

“Temperature control, cleanliness, pest control, stock rotation, and proper shelving are not optional practice; they are essential components of compliance”, he said.

The South South zonal director also told the operators of supermarket that their employees rotine training on the basis of the product they display for sale is of utmost importance.

In her presentation a Breast Milk Nutrition Expert , Professor Alice Nte of University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), was against the body’s prime attention to breast milk substitute or baby milk in supermarkets as well as its advertisement or promotion.

Nye jerked up the importance of mothers breast milk to the newborn baby and added that it help in fighting against childhood diseases, infections and combating cancer in breastfeeding mothers.

Meanwhile, NAFDAC Deputy Director, South – South Zone , Mrs. Riter Chujwuma educated the participants on the guidelines for global listing, and the need to adhere strictly to rules guiding global listing to avoid confiscation of their imported products.

By: King Onunwor

Business

BVN Enrolments Rise 6% To 67.8m In 2025 — NIBSS

Published

4 days ago

January 12, 2026

The Tide

The Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) has said that Bank Verification Number (BVN) enrolments rose by 6.8 per cent year-on-year to 67.8 million as at December 2025, up from 63.5 million recorded in the corresponding period of 2024.

In a statement published on its website, NIBSS attributed the growth to stronger policy enforcement by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the expansion of diaspora enrolment initiatives.

According to the data, more than 4.3 million new BVNs were issued within the one-year period, underscoring the growing adoption of biometric identification as a prerequisite for accessing financial services in Nigeria.

NIBSS noted that the expansion reinforces the BVN system’s central role in Nigeria’s financial inclusion drive and digital identity framework.

Analysts linked the growth largely to regulatory measures by the CBN, particularly the directive to restrict or freeze bank accounts without both a BVN and National Identification Number (NIN), which took effect from April 2024.

The policy compelled many customers to regularise their biometric records to retain access to banking services.

Another major driver, the statement said, was the rollout of the Non-Resident Bank Verification Number (NRBVN) initiative, which allows Nigerians in the diaspora to obtain a BVN remotely without physical presence in the country.

The programme has been widely regarded as a milestone in integrating the diaspora into Nigeria’s formal financial system.

A five-year analysis by NIBSS showed consistent growth in BVN enrolments, rising from 51.9 million in 2021 to 56.0 million in 2022, 60.1 million in 2023, 63.5 million in 2024 and 67.8 million by December 2025. The steady increase reflects stronger compliance with biometric identity requirements and improved coverage of the national banking identity system.

However, NIBSS noted that BVN enrolments still lag the total number of active bank accounts, which exceeded 320 million as of March 2025.

The gap, it explained, is largely due to multiple bank accounts linked to single BVNs, as well as customers yet to complete enrolment, despite the progress recorded.

Business

AFAN Unveils Plans To Boost Food Production In 2026

Published

7 days ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

The leadership of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) has set the tone for the new year with a renewed focus on food security, unity and long-term growth of the agricultural sector.

The association announced that its General Assembly of Farmers Congress will take place from January 15 to 17, 2026 at the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industries, along Lugbe Airport Road, in the Federal Capital Territory.

The gathering is expected to bring together farmers, policymakers, investors and development partners to shape a fresh direction for Nigerian agriculture.

In a New Year address to members and stakeholders, AFAN president, Dr Farouk Rabiu Mudi, said the congress would provide a strategic forum for reviewing past challenges and outlining practical solutions for the future.

He explained that the event would serve as a rallying point for innovation, collaboration and economic renewal within the sector.

Mudi commended farmers across the country for their determination and hard work, despite years of insecurity, climate-related pressures and economic uncertainty.

According to him, their resilience has kept food production alive and positioned agriculture as a stabilising force in the national economy.

He noted that AFAN intends to build on this strength by resetting agribusiness operations to improve productivity and sustainability.

The AFAN leader appealed to government institutions, private investors and development organisations to deepen their engagement with the association.

He stressed the need for collective action to confront persistent issues such as insecurity in farming communities, climate impacts and market instability.

He also urged members to put aside internal disputes and personal interests, encouraging cooperation and shared responsibility in pursuit of national development.

Mudi outlined key priorities that include increasing food output, expanding support for farmers at the grassroots and strengthening local manufacturing through partnerships with both domestic and international investors adding that reducing dependence on imports remains critical to protecting the economy and creating jobs.

He stated that the upcoming congress will feature the launch of AFAN’s twenty-five-year agricultural mechanisation roadmap, alongside the announcement of new partnerships designed to accelerate growth across the value chain.

Participants, he said wi also have opportunities for networking and knowledge exchange aimed at transforming agriculture into a more competitive and technology-driven sector.

As part of its modernisation drive, AFAN is further encouraging members nationwide to enrol for the newly introduced Digital ID Card.

Mudi said the initiative will improve transparency, ensure proper farmer identification and make it easier to access support programmes and services.

Reaffirming the association’s long-term goal, he said the vision of national food sufficiency by 2030 remains achievable if unity and collaboration are sustained.

He expressed optimism that with collective effort, Nigeria’s agricultural sector can overcome its challenges and deliver a more secure and prosperous future.

Lady Usendi