An appraisal of ‘Turnkey’ oil palm production in Rivers State, Nigeria

This paper reviews the ‘turnkey’ establishment of the 10 000 ha Ubima oil palm plantation in Rivers State, Nigeria, between 1977 and 1985. The plantation has a giant mechanised processing mill, mechanical workshops and other administrative and social buildings and facilities.

The plantation is now a major supplier of oil palm products for industries and human consumption. The project has itself generated sufficient revenue in under ten years to maintain and expand another oil palm plantation. It has stimulated the harvesting of numerous wild oil palms abandoned since the late 1960s and vigorous economic and social development activities in surrounding localities.

It is concluded that the ‘turnkey’ and high mechanisation approaches adopted, though desirable in providing sufficient oil palm products for Nigeria in the short-term, are not ideal for the country in the long-term.