The Executive Secretary of the National Palm Produce Association of Nigeria, Mr Patrick Udofia, has called on the Federal Government to rehabilitate the oil palm sector to enhance its capacity.

Mr. Udofia told newsmen in Lagos that the government should make deliberate efforts to regenerate the sector to meet local demand and industrial needs.

He said that Nigeria had good weather conditions, arable land and other potentials to enable it to be in the league of leading palm oil producing nations.

Mr. Udofia said that government’s strategy to establish three milling plants in each of the palm oil producing states would not go far enough to boost production in the sector.

According to him, the government should encourage the sector with free distribution of palm seedlings, the establishment of nurseries, crop protection and other inputs to improve cultivation and production.

         He urged the government to rehabilitate the sector in line with President Umaru Yar’Adua’s Seven-Point Agenda, to generate more employment, increase national productivity and also empower the people.