The Federal Government has launched a major initiative to improve Nigeria’s palm oil production and promote transparency in the sector.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, on behalf of the Federal Government, has inaugurated the National Palm Oil Traceability Framework and Inter-Agency Committee.
The move aims to enhance product quality, restore consumer confidence, and position Nigerian palm oil competitively in the global market.
The inauguration ceremony, which took place recently in Abuja, was presided over by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Marcus Olaniyi Ogunbiyi, who represented the Minister.
According to the Minister, the traceability framework is designed to tackle challenges in the sector such as adulteration, substandard processing, and poor packaging. He emphasized that the committee will serve as a central coordinating body, engaging government agencies, private sector operators, farmers’ cooperatives, processors, and development partners.
Senator Kyari described the initiative as a strategic step toward modernizing the palm oil value chain.
The Minister further highlighted the critical role of traceability in enforcing quality standards and ensuring product integrity across sectors including food processing, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics.
He noted that the committee’s work will align with the National Initiative for Sustainable and Climate-Smart Oil Palm Smallholders (NISCOPS), with an eye on boosting export volumes and enhancing national revenue.
Also speaking at the event, the Director of the Federal Department of Agriculture,Iwara Edet Bassey, said the framework will provide a comprehensive system to monitor production, certification, and supply chain data.
In his contribution, the Programme Manager for Oil Palm at Solidaridad Nigeria, Kennechukwu Onukwube, said the initiative represents a turning point in the industry. He commended the collective effort to build stakeholder consensus around a sustainable, traceable future for Nigeria’s palm oil sector.
The highlight of the event was the official inauguration of the Inter-Agency Committee on Palm Oil Traceability, marking a critical step in the federal government’s push toward agricultural transformation.
