The National Palm Produce Association of Nigeria (NPPAN) has unveiled plans to expand oil palm cultivation to northern Nigeria as part of efforts to reposition the country as a global leader in palm oil production.

Speaking at the Validation Meeting of the Nigerian Oil Palm Development Strategy, NPPAN President, Dr Alphonsus Inyang, said the move is driven by the need to scale production beyond the traditional southern belt.

“If we remain in the south, we might not be able to meet up with the targets of this Strategy. We need to go to the north,” Inyang said.

He identified Taraba, Niger, Kogi, and Nasarawa states as key targets for the expansion, citing favourable land size and climatic conditions.

“Taraba State with over 69,000 square kilometres has more land to do oil palm than the whole of southern Nigeria,” he said, adding that the state’s longer sunshine duration and water availability provide added advantages.

According to him, Taraba is already partnering with the association to become a major hub for oil palm production, while other savannah regions also possess suitable terrain for large-scale cultivation.

Inyang noted that expanding into the North is critical for Nigeria to meet production targets under the new development strategy and reduce reliance on imports.

The initiative signals a shift in Nigeria’s oil palm roadmap, which has historically been concentrated in the South, but has struggled to meet rising domestic and global demand.

Stakeholders say the success of the plan will depend on infrastructure, investment, and addressing potential environmental and land-use concerns as cultivation expands into new regions.