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From George Onyejiuwa, Owerri
The National Chairman of the Vegetable/Edible Oil Producers Association of Nigeria and Chairman of Camela Vegetable Oil Company, Engr Okey Ikoro, has said that the continued large-scale smuggling of refined vegetable oil into the country through land borders and waterways is a major threat to local producers.
He alleged that enforcement agencies are doing nothing to stem the tide of smuggled imported vegetable oil entering the country via neighbouring countries.
He noted that the unchecked illegal smuggling is not only undermining the capacity of local producers, but is also destroying jobs, reducing government revenues and posing a threat to food security.
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Ikoro, who stated this on Tuesday at a press conference in Owerri, the Imo State capital, said: “Local refineries operate far below capacity due to unfair price competition in Nigeria. Currently, we are producing 1.3m tonnes as against 6m tonnes because of under-utilisation. We cannot continue to pretend as companies and plantations across the country are closing down because of the smuggling of cheap vegetable oil from Malaysia, Indonesia and Colombia.
“Continuing, we are not asking for subsidies, we are asking the Federal Government to implement the policy of the ban on importation of vegetable/edible oil into Nigeria. Customs and NAFDAC should go into the markets and seize these smuggled vegetable oils which are sold in yellow jerrycans without labels. We have written to the relevant enforcement agencies to do the right thing. Nigeria has more land mass than Malaysia and Indonesia combined and can regain its former number one position in the production of palm oil.
“Nigeria is Africa’s largest palm oil producer and the sector supports millions of farmers, producers, traders and factory workers. Government policy restricts refined vegetable oil imports into the country and we want it enforced,” he submitted.
