Abuja: The Federal Government has inaugurated the National Palm Oil Traceability System (NaPOTS) Framework and established a 16-member Inter-Agency Committee to implement it. NaPOTS is designed to enhance product quality, promote sustainability, support climate-smart practices, and position Nigerian palm oil for competitive markets both domestically and internationally.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, during the inauguration event held on Tuesday in Abuja, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, described the launch as a significant step in Nigeria's agricultural transformation. Represented by Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi, Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Kyari emphasized that the inter-agency committee will design and oversee the Palm Oil Traceability Roadmap, coordinating efforts across multiple stakeholders.
Kyari noted that the initiative aligns with the ministry's National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy (NATIP), which prioritizes innovation, sustainability, and market-driven value chains. He stated, "This traceability framework demonstrates our commitment to food safety, market transparency, and economic resilience under President Bola Tinubu's leadership. It modernizes value chains, boosts global competitiveness, and encourages responsible production throughout the oil palm sector."
He further explained that traceability would increase consumer confidence by eliminating adulteration, ensuring compliance with national and international quality standards, and enhancing Nigeria's appeal in industries such as food processing, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. Kyari highlighted the crucial role of smallholder farmers, who produce more than 80 percent of Nigeria's palm oil, stating, "A traceability framework is a critical bridge to formal markets."
Mr. Kene Onukwube, Programme Manager for Solidaridad Nigeria, welcomed the framework's integration, noting that it would add efficiency across production, processing, and marketing in the palm oil sector. Onukwube praised Solidaridad's contribution, including climate-smart oil palm farming initiatives in Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Enugu, and Kogi States, and mentioned that the framework comes with policies to drive sustainable implementation.