RSPO Principles & Criteria (P&C) interpreted for Nigeria

NGNI document endorsed by RSPO’s Board of Governors

RSPO congratulates Nigeria and the Nigeria National Interpretation Working Group (NNIWG) for the successful completion of the Nigeria National Interpretation (NGNI) document. The NGNI was endorsed by the RSPO Board of Governors (BoG), based on the RSPO Principles and Criteria (P&C) 2013. The RSPO NNIWG presented the National Interpretation of the P&C to stakeholders in the Nigerian palm oil supply chain at the official launch at Protea Hotel in Benin City, Nigeria, on Tuesday, 24 April 2018.

It has been a long but necessary journey since RSPO member Presco PLC first initiated RSPO in Nigeria in 2009. Since then, numerous events and meetings have been held with various stakeholders throughout the palm oil supply chain. In April 2014, the NNIWG was formed, with chosen representatives from the producers (including smallholders), supply chain actors, and investors from environmental and social interest groups. Each member also committed to a Code of Conduct.

RSPO CEO applauds stakeholders for achievement

In a comment from the RSPO Secretariat office, RSPO CEO Datuk Darrel Webber congratulated Nigeria and the NNIWG on this achievement. “It’s crucial for local views and the context of sustainable oil palm agriculture to be adapted for different markets, particularly in Africa, where there is so much diversity within the continent itself,” Webber said. “The endorsement of the NGNI marks an important milestone for Nigeria, and we applaud everyone who was involved in the process.”

Media coverage:

• Stakeholders launch Nigeria’s version of RSPO for oil palm
• Objectives of the roundtable on sustainable palm oil (RSPO)
• Why we earmarked 200, 000ha for oil palm plantation – Obaseki
• Obaseki named Nigeria’s Champion of Sustainable Palm Oil Production
• Launch Of RSPO Will Build Sustainable Palm Oil Industry – Afolabi
• Why we earmarked 200,000-hectare for oil palm plantation, by Obaseki