From Abdulwahab Muhammad, Bauchi
A former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has called on the Federal Government to develop palm oil cultivation to boost the nation’s revenue earnings.
TheNewsZenith quotes Dogara as saying palm oil could generate up to N16.2 trillion annually for the country in just five years from now.
He made the call during a meeting with the National Association of National Palm Producers Association of Nigeria (NPPAN) on Wednesday night in Abuja.
Dogara emphasised that assisting people to revive large-scale palm oil farming could uplift many Nigerians out of poverty.
According to him, research has shown that the Nigerian government can empower 2,500,000 households by cultivating just one hectare of palm oil each in Bauchi state.
He said each hectare has 150 trees that can generate an average of N5 million per annum.
Multiplying these 150 trees by 2,500,000 farmers will amount to 375,000,000 trees. And that can generate up to N16.2 trillion per annum in just five years from now.
With the fund, he argued that the government could lift millions of Nigerians out of poverty.
The former federal lawmaker also called for an investigation into the status and administration of the palm oil levy set up by former president Olusegun Obasanjo.
He urged President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly to unravel the silence around the palm oil levy.
According to him, Obasanjo’s administration earmarked the levy for the development of palm oil in Nigeria. The fund is in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
“Throughout my 16 years in the National Assembly, I didn’t have any reason to think about the oil palm levy. Although, I know that it was instituted by Obasanjo’s government in 2001.
“So, that money has been there, accumulating in the CBN, assuming, we believe that CBN still has the money.
“I am happy that members of the National Assembly are here, it is their responsibility to open accounts and investigate if this money is there,” he said.
Read Related News:
FG/IFAD launch agribusiness innovation forum in C/River
JGSG invests N5bn in farmer support services
Gombe seeks partnership with Morocco on aquaculture potentials
FG procures 58,000mt rice to stem inflation
Agency urges Nigerians to preserve nature with coconuts
According to him, the fund must have risen to hundreds of billions by now. So, the government doesn’t have to look for money elsewhere to develop the palm oil plantation.
Dogara challenged the media to amplify this discussion, to ascertain if the money was there or not.
“The President should, in the national interest, look into the administration of this fund and its whereabouts.
“If it is there, there is no issue. But if that money is not there, whoever has taken it should face the music.’’
Dogara urged all stakeholders to continue advocacy on alleviating poverty in Nigeria through palm oil cultivation across the country.
Earlier, the Chairman of NPPAN, Ambassador Alphonsus Infant, recalled that up to the 1960s, Nigeria controlled the palm oil market.
According to Infant, 60 per cent of the world’s production and exports came from Nigeria.
“Then, petroleum was found and palm oil lost its place., just like many others lost their place. The glory we lost, we want to regain,’’ he lamented.
“Indonesia produces 80 million tonnes of palm oil, Malaysia produces 19.2 million tonnes per year and China produces five million tonnes per year.
“Sadly, Nigeria produces 1.4 million tonnes per year. And this position, we may lose it any point from now.
“The reason is that India has just declared a policy that two million hectares of rice farm should be declared as oil palm estates,” the NPPAN chairman said.
TheNewsZenith reports that the association conferred the honour of the National Patron on Dogara.
Conferring the honour on him, Infant said the association chose the former Speaker for the award because he “is a good negotiator of policies and will negotiate for the restoration of the lost glory of oil palm in Nigeria”.
Do you have a flair for Citizenship Journalism? Share story(ies) of happenings in your area with TheNewsZenith on WhatsApp: 08033668669 or thenewszenithonline@gmail.com