27.02.2019 (Leadership Newspaper (press release) (blog)) - The European Union (EU) said it has not placed any ban on palm oil importation from Nigeria.

Head of cooperation, EU Delegation to Nigeria and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Mr Kurt Cornelis, said in Abuja that the EU had no plan to ban palm oil importation.

Cornelis made the clarification during a sensitisation workshop organised by the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) on the proposed ban of palm oil importation to the EU.

“It is not true that the EU was planning to ban palm oil importation to the union from Nigeria.

“We are not considering any ban on oil importation from the third world countries, we think there is some confusion somewhere,’’ he said.

He also disclosed that the EU Parliament and Council reached an agreement on bio-fuel for renewable energy,adding that the renewable energy directive do not propose ban on oil.

According to him, the EU would focus on investment and partnership with banks in its next programme that would last for 10 years.

 However, Ms Yewande Sadiku, the executive secretary, Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), said that the commission had received a letter from the foreign affairs ministry that the EU proposed to ban the importation of palm oil to the union.

Sadiku, represented by Hajiya Ladi Katagum,a director in the Commission said the workshop was organised to address the issue.

She said the commission is expected to monitor all investment promotion activities, initiate and support measures which shall enhance the investment climate in Nigeria.

 National president, Oil Palm Growers Association of Nigeria, Mr Hilary Uche, said that the major problem in the country was lack of capacity building for small-scale farmers.

Uche therefore urged the federal government to encourage development in the sector as it could create the highest job opportunity in the country.

Read More at: https://leadership.ng/2019/02/27/we-did-not-place-ban-on-palm-oil-importation/