On Monday, Davidorlah Nigeria Limited, an indigenous agricultural firm, announced its plan to empower over 50,000 young Nigerians in pineapple farming to support the Federal Government’s commitment to addressing food security.
Speaking to National Assembly Correspondents in Abuja, the firm’s Chairman and CEO, Ambassador Oluwasegun Alabi, stated that the empowerment program is open to interested Nigerian youths without any conditions. He urged the Federal Government to create a conducive environment for farming to tackle food insecurity and crises in the country.
Ambassador Alabi revealed that the firm, headquartered in Ago Iwoye, Ogun State, is developing an app to facilitate easy enrollment for interested participants. Additionally, Davidorlah Nigeria Limited is collaborating with various state governments to acquire land for the project across the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Alabi highlighted that Nigeria loses approximately N50 million daily due to pineapple imports, despite being the world’s eighth-largest producer with an annual output of 1,607,200 metric tons. He expressed concern over the country’s reliance on pineapple imports from Ghana and Togo, which rank 13th and 16th globally in pineapple production.
Nigeria currently meets only 50% of its domestic pineapple demand. Despite the high demand for pineapples in Asian markets, Nigeria has been unable to produce enough to meet international demand. Alabi attributed this shortfall to substandard agricultural practices, resulting in lower quality pineapples unsuitable for export and industrial use.
Alabi emphasized the lack of proper processing facilities in Nigeria, which hinders the country’s ability to produce and export value-added pineapple products like canned pineapples and concentrated juice, thereby excluding Nigeria from the global market.
He pointed out that pineapples are the fifth most consumed fruit worldwide and hold a significant position as a luxury item in the global market, with demand consistently outstripping supply. Despite the growing global demand, Nigeria’s agricultural sector has not fully capitalized on this opportunity due to outdated farming practices and inadequate access to modern knowledge, resources, and infrastructure.
Alabi underscored the versatile applications of pineapples, which can be used to produce items such as clothing, shoes, bags, disposable plates, spoons, and even biofuel, in addition to their health benefits. He stressed the potential for Nigeria to meet both domestic demand and become a leading global exporter, provided the country overcomes the challenges of quality and infrastructure.
He concluded by calling on the government to foster a business-friendly environment that supports private sector growth, enabling Nigeria to maximize its agricultural potential and participate in global trade opportunities.
