Nigerian students, through the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), are calling on the federal government to revive the country's moribund palm oil plantations in order to reduce the $600 million spent annually on palm oil imports. Nigeria was once a major producer and exporter of palm oil, but production has declined over the years due to neglect of the sector. NANS argues that reviving these abandoned plantations could boost local palm oil production and reduce the country's reliance on imports. The government has announced plans to invest $500 million to increase palm oil production from 600,000 tons to 5 million tons by 2027, but critics say more support is needed for smallholder farmers who produce 80% of Nigeria's palm oil. Expanding industrial palm plantations is also raising concerns about deforestation and the rights of local communities.


Source: BigManBusiness.com




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