The Federal Government has inaugurated the National Palm Oil Traceability Framework and Inter-Agency Committee to enhance palm oil production, restore consumer confidence and improve the sector’s export potential.
Speaking during the inauguration in Abuja, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari represented by the ministry’s permanent secretary, Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi said the committee was established to address key challenges such as adulteration, poor processing and inadequate packaging.
According to the minister, the committee will drive the implementation of a robust traceability system, ensuring collaboration among federal and state agencies, private sector players, farmer cooperatives, processors, market associations, development partners and donors.
He described the initiative as a major step in the government’s efforts to modernise agricultural value chains and promote responsible production across Nigeria’s oil palm sector. “The establishment of a national traceability system for palm oil is a clear demonstration of our determination to enhance global competitiveness and ensure responsible sourcing,” he said.
Highlighting the significance of the initiative, Kyari stated, “Traceability is essential for boosting consumer confidence and maintaining product integrity. It helps eliminate adulteration, ensures compliance with local and international standards and improves the global competitiveness of our palm oil in industries such as food processing, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics.”
The committee will operate under the National Initiative for Sustainable and Climate-Smart Oil Palm Smallholders (NISCOPS) and is expected to support Nigeria’s push to not only meet domestic demand but also expand exports to generate revenue.
In his welcome remarks, director of the federal department of agriculture, Iwara Bassey said the initiative will establish a comprehensive national traceability system to monitor production, certification and supply chain data.
Also speaking, programme manager, Oil Palm at Solidaridad Nigeria, Kennechukwu Onukwube stressed the need for a unified national policy. He noted that Solidaridad has played a central role in raising awareness about the importance of traceability in the sector.
A statement from the ministry’s director of information signed by Chika Ogbuagu highlighted the inauguration of the inter-agency committee as the central moment of the event.
