Palm oil for crimes: Nigeria to boost palm production to fight crime

Nigeria has embarked on moves to reduce criminality amongst youths in the South East region by investing heavily in agriculture, particularly increasing palm products production with special emphasis on palm oil.

To that effect, the Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR) located in Benin City, Edo State, has formed a collaboration with a group, the Odinala Cultural Heritage Foundation, otherwise known as OCHIE Igbo.

The objective is to embark on massive palm plantation development in the South East region.

NIFOR disclosed this in a letter entitled dated February 13, 2024, addressed to the Chairman BoT, Odinala Cultural Heritage Foundation, Ochie Igbo, and signed by Mrs. Saidat 0. Ziregbe, on behalf of NIFOR Acting Executive Director / CEO.

The aim, OCHIE Igbo revealed in its proposal, is to reduce crime and criminality amongst youths in the South East.

The group sold the massive palm production idea to NIFOR in a letter dated January 26, 2024.

What does NIFOR say?

In response, NIFOR described the idea of palm plantation development as lofty ideal, and not misplaced priority.

Mrs. Ziregbe, while conveying the approval of the Acting Executive Director / CEO to partner with OCHIE Igbo as requested, stated:

“Your intention to reduce crime and criminality amongst youths in the southeast by embarking on massive oil palm plantation development is not a misplaced priority and it is a lofty ideal.

“The Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR), Benin City has high yielding oil palm Tenera breed with annual fresh fruit bunch (ffb) of between 25 to 30 tons per hectare.

“[This] will go a long way not only in addressing crime rate but also improve on the economic status of the South East region in terms of farmers’ livelihood and revenue accruing to the state government.

“As an Institution, we are ready to partner and provide technical support to your foundation in terms of training of the youths on oil palm best management practices for maximum yield and other tree crops desired.”

After noting, however, that a little fee is charged for training, Ziregbe added:

“We also have an oil palm training manual at an affordable price.

“We will be able to supply your organization with one million oil palm seedlings in phases if the intended numbers to plant at a particular phase is communicated to us on time.

“Consequently, the price of our seedling is highly subsidized at the current price of one thousand naira (N1,000.00) per seedling.”

Ziregbe further commended the efforts of OCHIE Igbo in reducing criminality through community based agricultural project.

See a copy of the NIFOR letter below:

About Palm oil

Palm oil is an edible vegetable oil derived from the mesocarp of the palms fruit.

The oil is used in food manufacturing, in beauty products, and as biofuel.

According to data, it accounted for about 36% of global oils produced from oil crops in 2014.

The biggest global producers of palm products are Indonesia, who produced 60% of it in 2022, followed by Malaysia, Thailand, and Nigeria.

Indonesia also produces biodiesel primarily from the oil.

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