Nigeria Nears Full Membership of Global Palm Oil Council

Nigeria is edging closer to becoming a full member of the Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC) after serving as an observer since 2024, a move expected to strengthen its influence in the global palm oil market.

The Secretary-General of the council led a delegation to Nigeria for high-level talks with the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security to discuss the country’s transition from observer to full member, as well as deepen collaboration in palm oil production and trade.

According to the Secretary-General, the council has offered Nigeria a two-year waiver on membership fees to ease its integration into the global body.

“Nigeria, Ghana and Colombia currently serve as observers, and part of our task is to ensure observer countries become full members while strengthening our collective voice,” she said.

Strategic Positioning in Global Market

Full membership would position Nigeria alongside major producers such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Honduras, Papua New Guinea and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Industry stakeholders say this would give Nigeria greater leverage in shaping global policies in a sector where it currently produces about 1.46 million metric tons annually from roughly 620,000 hectares of plantations.

Recent figures indicate Nigeria’s production rose to approximately 1.57 million tons in 2025, reflecting steady growth over the past five years. However, the country consumes more than 3 million tons annually, making it a net importer despite being Africa’s largest producer and exporter of palm oil.

Industry Challenges Persist

Despite the positive outlook, experts caution that structural challenges continue to hamper Nigeria’s full potential.

President of the Palm Oil Producers Association of Nigeria, Sir Alonso Inyang, noted that more than 80 percent of Nigeria’s oil palm trees are ageing and overdue for replanting. Many were planted decades ago and now yield below optimal capacity.

Productivity per hectare remains significantly lower than global competitors. While Malaysia and Indonesia record 35 to 40 tons of fresh fruit bunches per hectare, Nigeria averages between 5 and 10 tons.

He also revealed that several palm oil mills have shut down due to inadequate supply of fresh fruit bunches, stressing that the core issue is low plantation productivity rather than processing capacity.

Push for Policy Reform and Rural Empowerment

Inyang disclosed that a National Oil Palm Strategy and Roadmap (2026–2050) is nearing completion and is expected to provide long-term policy direction for the sector.

He proposed an ambitious intervention plan that would empower 2.5 million rural households with ₦3 million each to cultivate one hectare of oil palm using hybrid seedlings. According to him, the initiative could generate a ₦20 trillion economy within five years and significantly reduce poverty in rural communities.

“We can produce up to 10 million tons by 2050 and become the second largest producer globally,” he said, adding that oil palm development could contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s broader economic diversification goals.

Analysts believe that securing full membership in the Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries would boost Nigeria’s diplomatic standing in global palm oil negotiations while providing a platform to attract investment, improve standards, and strengthen sustainability practices.

However, they note that meaningful impact will depend on addressing long-standing issues in productivity, replanting, and policy coordination.