Engage With Relevant Stakeholders to Promote Trade Activities in Palm Oiland Palm Oil-Based Products

June 17, 2025
Our Scoop
4 min read

Activity:
Meeting with Senior Special Assistant to President on Community Engagement South-South

11 June 2025

The High Commissioner of Malaysia met with Honorable Ms. Johnbull Gift, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to President on Community Engagement
South-South on 11 June 2025. High Commissioner was accompanied by Cik Sharmini Devi Gopal. The SSA to President is in charge for the development of the community in the South-South regions in Nigeria comprise 6 states of
Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross-River, Delta, Edo and Rivers.

2. The objectives of the meeting were to brief the SSA to President on the development and promotion of palm oil activities by Malaysian companies and Malaysian interest in Nigeria. The High Commissioner mentioned on his last visit to Cross River state from 4 to 6 June 2025 to visit Malaysian company and community near Calabar. He also mentioned on his meeting with the Governor of the Cross River to brief the latter on the same. The meeting will pave the way for possible  collaborations with Nigeria. The SSA to the President has a mandate for the development the smallholder farmers in the South-South region who are in dire need of assistance.

3. The High Commissioner introduced Agrinexus, a Malaysian company, which currently managing Nigerian palm oil farm of a size of 5,400 hectares belong to a Nigerian businessman, under the name of JB Farm in Oban. Agrinexus, under its managing director, Dr. Shermal who has been in Nigeria since 2017 provides his company’s expertise and services as well as managing daily operations of the JB Farm with his Malaysian team. The High Commissioner added that Dr. Shermal is also currently the Chairman of Incorporated Society of Planters (ISP) Africa Chapter, with office in Abuja. The ISP Africa was established in May 2024 by Minister of Agriculture, Nigeria. High Commissioner also mentioned in passing the existence of the largest palm oil operator in Nigeria, namely Wilmar International based in Singapore, which owned by Kuok Family in Malaysia and Indonesian partner.

4. The High Commissioner quipped that Malaysian oil palm trees originally came from West Africa during colonial times, brought by British into Federal Malaya in 1870s, approximately 150 years ago. Malaysia performed well in agriculture and currently is the second largest of palm oil producer in the world after Indonesia. Malaysian expertise in managing palm oil plantations is always sought by many countries worldwide due to technical know-how and the usage of modern technologies. Although Malaysian is the second largest palm oil producer in the world, most of the palm oil plantations in Indonesia belong to Malaysian companies due to the land scarcity in Malaysia. In fact, a significant number of the plantations’ management staff in Indonesia are Malaysians. The presence of Malaysian experts in Nigeria, working on the large-scale industrial plantations like JB Farm, not only bring economic benefits to Nigeria but at the same time promoting Malaysian palm oil exports to Nigeria and Malaysian technical assistance and services of the Malaysian palm oil companies.

5. On the bilateral assistance, Malaysian government has been giving technical assistance to Nigeria through its Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme (MTCP) not only in agriculture aspect but many other areas including the economy, public administration, diplomacy, construction and so on. In return, the High Commissioner too expressed his hope that Nigerian government could facilitate within its power to assist the Malaysian company working to develop palm oil sector of any bureaucratic hassles that among others imports of palm oil related products and equipment to be used in Nigeria. The High Commissioner apprised the SSA to the President since Malaysia has not yet elevated to a developed country status, it is not subject to Official  development Assistance (ODA), hence bilateral assistance in the form of funds is not available.

6. Nigeria’s major import items from Malaysia in 2024 was palm oil & palm oil-based agricultural products (40.8% of our total exports of USD600 million). Although Nigeria produces big quantities of edible oils mainly palm and palm kernel oil, their huge population of about 230 million, make edible oils insufficient and the bulk of its requirements have to be imported. Palm oil and tallow & grease oil are the major imported oils into Nigeria. Per capita oils and fats consumption now stands at about 15.1 kg/year. Given its growing population and robust economic growth especially in the food industries, Nigeria holds much potential for palm oil. The Malaysian palm oil industry could take advantage of the opportunities by exporting more palm oil to fulfil the oils and fats requirement in Nigeria. The High Commissioner acknowledged that Cross River state has risen as a significant hub for palm oil plantations in Nigeria.

7. The SSA thanked the High Commissioner and hoped more bilateral cooperation between two states can be strengthen in the future. She also mentioned she would be in contact with Dr. Shermal to get his assistance to develop agriculture in South-South region.

Outcome

8. The meeting enhanced the awareness of the Nigerian Government of
the presence of the Malaysian company in the South-South region, in particular in Cross River state and would pave the way for the promotion of our palm oil exports into Nigeria, taking advantage of insufficient palm oil production in Nigeria. Nigeria, after being too much dependent on oil and gas in the past after its discovery in 1950s has abandoned agriculture sector. The current administration realized that they could no longer depend solely on oil and gas and should look into developing agriculture sector as backbone of their economy that could benefits the 230 million people. The meeting managed to connect the Nigerian government with Agrinexus and the ISP Africa Chapter, led by Dr. Shermal. The meeting could facilitate more exports of Malaysian palm oil and plantation equipment as well as technology into Nigeria.

Prepared by:

Malawakil Abuja
13 June 2025