Business
FG Urges Use Of Bio-Fuel
The Federal Government has urged Nigerians to embrace the concept of developing bio-fuels for everyday use to reduce over-dependence on imports of petroleum products.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources,Dr Ibe Kachikwu, gave the advice in Abuja at a sensitisation workshop, organised by the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), on Bio-fuel Development in Nigeria.
A bio-fuel is produced through contemporary biological processes such as agriculture and anaerobic digestion and is embraced world over for uses such as electricity generation, energy alternatives.
Kachikwu, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Fiscal Strategy, Dr Tim Okon, said in the quest for renewable energy sources, advantages of bio-fuels were many.
“This workshop is expected to further enlighten Nigerians on the economic, environmental, agricultural and social benefits of bio-fuels as a player in a world that is fast embracing effective and efficient energy mix.
“You will recall the resolve of this administration to diversify the economy and reduce our dependence on fossil fuel and imported petroleum products.
“Such a determination calls for greater urgency now, going by the dwindling prices of crude oil; time has come for us to explore alternative energy and revenue resources with the abundance of land at our disposal.
“I believe bio-fuel will soon become our foreign exchange earner, if we can apply both our minds and might to it,’’ Kachikwu said.
He said the nation could produce crude and fire gas but the only way to “reach every nook and cranny and every citizen was to look towards natural resources like solar, wind, water and bio-fuel.’’
The Acting Executive Secretary of the PPPRA, Mr Victor Shidok, said an existing policy on bio-fuel was rejected by stakeholders because it was import-dependent and import-driven.
“The gazette, which was roundly rejected by all stakeholders, necessitated a policy review which is now ongoing and coordinated by the PPPRA.
“Let me affirm that PPPRA is well aware of the immense socio-economic benefits derivable from domestic production of bio-fuels.
“We dare say that the expected increase in agricultural activities is bound to translate to enormous job creation and contribute to the nation’s gross domestic product growth.’’
He said policies such as these were bound to succeed only with stakeholders support and people’s interest.
Stakeholders, who spoke at the event, all agreed that benefits of bio-fuels far outweighed the disadvantages and encouraged the Federal Government to be proactive in ensuring a workable policy.
Mrs Omolade Esan, Principal Engineer, Pollution and Waste Control Management Unit, National Biotechnology Development Agency, told newsmen that every Nigerian could generate power from home.
“It is not cumbersome, once you can get your waste and you refine it, you can power your generator and even cook with it.
“The flame the gas produces is blue. This alternative energy source is cleaner, cheaper, healthier, safer, more convenient and environmental friendly,’’ Esan said.
The workshop had the theme: “Nigeria’s New Economy.’’
The United States Trade Representative (USTR) has criticised Nigeria’s import ban on 25 categories of goods, claiming that the restrictions limit market access for American exporters.
This is the effect of President Donald Trump’s tariffs introduction on goods entering the United States, with Nigeria facing a 14 per cent duty.
The USTR highlighted the impact of Nigeria’s import ban on various sectors, particularly agriculture, pharmaceuticals, beverages, and consumer goods.
The restrictions affect items such as beef, pork, poultry, fruit juices, medicaments, and alcoholic beverages, which the United States sees as significant barriers to trade.
The agency argues that these limitations reduce export opportunities for United States businesses and lead to lost revenue.
“Nigeria’s import ban on 25 different product categories impacts United States exporters, particularly in agriculture, pharmaceuticals, beverages, and consumer goods.
“Restrictions on items like beef, pork, poultry, fruit juices, medicaments, and spirits limit United States market access and reduce export opportunities.
“These policies create significant trade barriers that lead to lost revenue for United States businesses looking to expand in the Nigerian market”, the agency said .
In 2016, Nigeria implemented the ban on these 25 items as part of efforts to control imports and stimulate local production.
Some of the banned items include poultry, pork, refined vegetable oil, sugar, cocoa products, spaghetti, beer, and certain medicines.
On March 26, 2025, the Federal Government also announced plans to halt solar panel imports to encourage local manufacturing as part of its push for clean energy.
A leading agribusiness strategist and digital agriculture expert, Ayo Oluwa Okediji, has sought cooperative-driven investments in sustaining growth of poultry industry in Nigeria.
He said the poultry industry was at a defining moment and requires urgent structural reforms to secure its future and ensure long-term sustainability.
Speaking on the theme, “Strengthening Poultry Farming Through Cooperative Synergy and Strategic Investments”, at the recently concluded Oyo Mega Poultry Workshop 2025 in Ibadan, Okediji called on poultry farmers, cooperative leaders, financial institutions and policy makers to rethink the existing structure of the poultry sector.
He stressed the need to transition from fragmented, individually-driven operations to well-structured, cooperative-led enterprises capable of attracting sustainable financing and securing long-term viability.
He said, “Our poultry sector cannot thrive on individual effort alone. We need to organise ourselves into cooperative clusters, build strong governance systems and position ourselves to attract the level of investment needed to sustain this industry beyond this generation.”
Drawing on lessons from successful global cooperative models such as Rabobank in the Netherlands and Landus Cooperative in the United States, Okediji introduced the FarmClusters Poultry Model, a locally adapted solution developed by Agribusiness Dynamics Technology Limited (AgDyna), a subsidiary of AgroInfoTech Africa.
According to him, the model is currently being piloted in Oyo State in partnership with PANOY Agribusiness Limited and local poultry cooperatives.
The Rivers State Representative of the Nigeria Chambers of Commerce, Mines, Industries and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Mr. Erasmus Chukwundah, has urged palm oil farmers to consider hybrid seedlings for planting, if they must break even in palm oil business.
Chukwundah said this recently at the Free Oil Palm Business Climate Smart Best Management Practice/Assistance Training organized by Partnership Initiative In Niger Delta (PIND) for Palm Oil Farmers in Elele, Ikwerre Local Government Area.
The Rivers representative said until palm oil farmers begin to consider such hybrid oil palm seedlings, they may not meet up with the daily increasing demand of palm oil in the market.
According to him, the seedlings produce up to 30 bunches at once that ripen same time.
He said PIND decided to partner with Oil Palm Growers Association of Nigeria (OPGAN) to ensure that the message was received by the targeted audience.
According to him, palm oil remained a popular choice of industry operators as it could be converted to many other products such as vegetable cooking oil.
He also noted that products such as motor tyers, marine ropes and others are now gotten from the palm tree.
Chukwundah, who is the immediate past Director-General of Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Mines, Industries, and Agriculture (PHCCIMA), further warned against use of unrecommended fertilisers in growing oil palms.
He noted that such practices could limit its export value or chances as the foreign marketers have a way of detecting such .
He reiterated the need for organic fertilizers, including poultry droppings, to enable them have a natural palm oil.
“People must reduce physical contact with palm oil production. That is why we are campaigning for hydrolic oil mills. The foreign markets are no longer interested in crude method of palm oil production”, he said.
Meanwhile, one of the farmers, Sonny Didia, who appreciated Chukwundah’s commitment towards the concern of farmers, appealed for an urgent need for loan opportunity with low interest rate in order to enable them beat the target.
King Onunwor