Enugu United Palm Products Limited, a public-private partnership between Pragmatic Palms Limited and the Enugu State Government, has commenced commercial production of palm oil for the Nigerian market.
The company’s Managing Director, George Nwangwu, disclosed this when he led members of the company’s board and management on a visit to Governor Peter Mbah at the Government House in Enugu.
Nwangwu said the visit was to brief the governor on the company’s progress since commencing operations, adding that the firm was preparing to expand into refined palm oil products and establish a new industrial complex.
He disclosed that the company’s palm oil brand, Enugu Vegetable Oil Product, EVOP, had already been launched and was available in open markets and supermarkets across the country.
According to him, sachet packaging of the product is expected to enter the market within two weeks as the company moves to make its products more accessible to Nigerian households.
Nwangwu explained that the EVOP brand was named to reflect Enugu’s agricultural and industrial heritage, particularly the former AVOP vegetable oil produced in Nachi, Udi Local Government Area.
He said the company was committed to maintaining quality, natural production processes and traceability while strengthening the state’s agricultural value chain.
The Managing Director also disclosed that the company was investing 2.2 million dollars in a refinery expected to process crude palm oil into olein and stearin, as well as refine palm kernel oil.
He said the expansion would create employment opportunities, stimulate local economic activities and further develop Enugu State’s palm oil value chain.
Responding, Governor Peter Mbah described the partnership as a model worthy of emulation and evidence of his administration’s commitment to reviving dormant government assets through productive partnerships with the private sector.
Mbah assured the company that the state government would fulfil its obligations under the partnership and provide the necessary support to enable Enugu United Palm Products achieve its full potential.
The development is expected to strengthen local palm oil production while increasing opportunities for value addition, employment and industrial growth in Enugu State.
