Ismail Abdulazeez Mantu, Reporting
Edo State, Nigeria
Edo State has secured its position as Nigeria’s top oil palm producer, contributing an impressive 12% to the nation’s total palm oil production.
This achievement is a direct result of the agricultural reforms spearheaded by Governor Godwin Obaseki, aimed at revitalizing the sector and stimulating economic growth.
The Edo State Oil Palm Programme (ESOPP) has been pivotal in this transformation. By allocating over 70,000 hectares of land for sustainable oil palm development and attracting more than $500 million in investment—the largest in sub-Saharan Africa—Governor Obaseki has successfully de-risked the oil palm value chain and created a conducive environment for investors.
Prominent companies like Okomu, Presco, Dufil Prima Foods (makers of Indomie Noodles), Saro Oil Palm, Flour Mills Nigeria Plc, Fayus (an American company), and Saturn Farms have all been allocated land under this initiative. These investments have not only boosted production but also enhanced the economic landscape of Edo State.
Alhaji Fatai Afolabi, CEO of Foremost Development Services Limited, an intermediary for the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) in Nigeria, praised the Governor’s reforms. “Today, Edo State is the number one oil palm producing state in Nigeria, contributing about 12% to the aggregate oil palm production, with Akwa-Ibom and Cross River States trailing with contributions between 5% and 8%,” he noted. “This progress reflects the strategic efforts of Governor Obaseki’s administration.”
Building on the success of the first phase of the ESOPP, Governor Obaseki has announced plans for the second phase, which will see an additional 47,000 hectares of land allocated to new and prospective oil palm investors. This move is expected to further consolidate Edo State’s leading position in the oil palm industry and drive further economic development.