By Isaac Aimurie, Henry Oqua and Godspower Eguasa
As the global demand for oil palm grows to new levels amid embargo on export by leading producers, there is excitement in Edo State among players in the sector as investors in the State’s palm oil estates have commenced land preparation activity for nursery development.
The Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security in the State, Stephen Ehikioya Idehenre, disclosed this after the weekly Executive Council (EXCO) Meeting on Wednesday, May 25, 2022, in Government House, Benin City.
Idehenre commended the Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, for setting the stage for new entrants in the industry by providing land and the enabling policies for the new investors to operate in the State.
The Commissioner said: “Companies that were given lands for the oil palm programme have taken the initiative, they have started developing their lands, land preparation for nursery development are in top gear, and most of them too are still doing community engagements.”
He told journalists that the meeting which was presided over by the Chairman-in-Council and Governor, “was briefed on the activities of investors who have commenced development on the various portions of land allocated to them.”
He added that “one or two communities were being engaged to resolve a few issues of mutual interest and urged the community leaders to as a matter of urgency, cooperate with the investors.”
He further said that the progress being made in the oil palm sector holds great promise as thousands of jobs would be created in the State.
“Don’t also forget that there is a global issue with food supply now, the Malaysian and Indonesian governments have banned oil export, that means we must as a matter of urgency, begin to drive the development of oil palm plantation in Nigeria”, the commissioner added.
