The Special Adviser to the Governor of Benue State on International Investments, Sir Alex Addingi has told TNT exclusively that 65,000 oil palm seedlings have been specifically reserved for planting in Buruku Local Government Area (LGA), Benue State, in this year’s wet season.
In 2014, Sir Addingi commenced what he termed the “Black Gold” campaign, whose mission was to ensure that Benue State became the hub of oil palm and oil palm-related products. The campaign was adopted by his principal, Fr. Hyacinth Alia, since coming to power in 2023. Hundreds of thousands of oil palm seedlings have been planted already.
Speaking with TNT in Makurdi, on return from the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Convention, Sir Addingi said in addition to the 65,000 oil palm seedlings, plantain suckers would also be planted for local farmers within the LGA.
“We are driving a new revolution. We call it the new black gold,” he emphasised.
While inviting local farmers to key into the Benue Alia Palm Project (BAPP), Sir Addingi reckons, “The oil palm is very vast. It provides raw materials for food, shelter, clothing, timber, fuel, building materials, fibres, starch, oils, waxes, wines, and a host of minor products.
“And for your information, the palm shells, which literally should be thrown away, are ten times the value of palm oil and palm kernel combined.
“It’s a miracle tree. And if you want to value it for what it is, one oil palm is equivalent to twenty orange trees. We are talking about a hybrid.”
