Enugu United Palm Products Begins Commercial Production, Invests $2.2m in Refinery to Boost Nigeria's Palm Oil

Enugu United Palm Products Limited (UPPL), a public-private partnership between the Enugu State Government and Pragmatic Palms Limited, has commenced commercial production of palm oil for the Nigerian market, with ambitious plans to expand into refined products and establish a new industrial complex.

The company's Managing Director, Prof. George Nwangwu, led a delegation of directors to the Enugu State Government House on Monday to brief Governor Peter Mbah on the company's progress since operations began two years ago. Nwangwu disclosed that UPPL had restored plantations in Ibite-Olo, Umulokpa and Ugwu-Oba, located in the Ezeagu, Uzo-Uwani and Oji River Local Government Areas, bringing them back into productive use.

According to Nwangwu, the company has so far replanted over 1,000 hectares of oil palm trees and is progressively replacing old trees, some of which are over 50 years old. "We took over a forest, a dead place. We have turned it from a forest into a plantation. We have cleared the entire area, pruned the existing trees and started replanting. The trees we met were very old, over 50 years old, so they need to be replaced. We are doing that gradually. So far, we have planted over 1,000 hectares. Our target is to continue planting until we have replanted the entire forest and all the trees are renewed," he said.

The UPPL boss said the company is moving beyond primary agricultural production to invest in processing and value addition, noting that it has installed mills that have improved the quality and quantity of palm oil production. He also revealed that the company is investing $2.2 million in a refinery that will process crude palm oil (CPO) into olein and stearin, while also refining palm kernel oil. "We understand that this is a business and not just planting. Agriculture has moved beyond planting alone. We need to process because value addition is important. So, we're milling our oil now. We've improved the quality and quantity of the oil that we're producing," Nwangwu said.

He added that the company is developing a new industrial complex to consolidate its production and processing operations. Nwangwu further disclosed that the company's palm oil brand, EVOP, has been launched and is already available in open markets and supermarkets across Nigeria, with sachet packaging expected to hit the market within two weeks. He explained that the EVOP name was chosen to connect the product with the region's agricultural and industrial heritage, particularly the former AVOP vegetable oil brand produced in Nachi, Udi Local Government Area. "We chose the name EVOP to make sure that we keep in touch with our historical foundation. Some of us who are old enough would remember AVOP vegetable oil being bottled in Nachi, Udi. We feel that this is the product of our people and we had to connect with our historical beginnings," he said.

According to him, the company's objective is to make the product accessible to households across Nigeria while maintaining strict standards of quality, natural production and traceability. "Everything is done in-house. Nothing is contracted. We are end-to-end, and we also have certification from NAFDAC, SON and all the relevant agencies. If you look at our product, you'll see a barcode there, and you'll also see a code that you can scan to tell you where the product is from. For us, traceability matters, and that is the fundamental advantage of our palm oil," Nwangwu added. He said the company's expansion is expected to contribute to employment generation, local economic activity and the development of the state's agricultural value chain.

Responding, Governor Mbah described the partnership between the Enugu State Government and Pragmatic Palms Limited as a model worthy of emulation, saying it demonstrated the administration's commitment to reactivating dormant government assets for the benefit of Ndi Enugu. He assured the company that the state government would fulfil all its obligations under the partnership and provide the necessary support to enable UPPL achieve its full potential.

Mbah also expressed support for the company's plan to list on the Nigerian stock market within four years, saying Enugu needed companies capable of attracting public investment and creating greater value for the state. "This is consistent with the state's ambition, to optimise these assets and to grow them and make them big. We are talking about an investment outlay of over N100 billion, and if in four years you are targeting going to the market, we are with you on that. We will give you all support," he said.

The governor disclosed that the state government is on the verge of awarding two major road projects to improve access to the company's plantations, including the road from Umumba Ndiagu to Ebenebe, adding that the projects would be fast-tracked. He also said he had directed that the headquarters of the state's Forest Guards be located at Ibite-Olo to strengthen security around the plantation, while assuring the company that the government would address any encroachment on its acquired land. Mbah further assured UPPL that the government would provide the 6,700 hectares committed under the partnership and work with the company and the host communities to secure additional land if it decides to expand its target to 10,000 hectares. He stressed the importance of maintaining transparent and credible financial records ahead of the proposed listing and said the government would hold regular briefings with the company to identify and swiftly resolve challenges.

The revival of UPPL represents a significant step in Enugu State's efforts to optimise dormant government assets and strengthen the agricultural value chain. With commercial production now underway, a $2.2 million refinery investment in progress, and a clear path to public listing, the company is positioning itself as a major player in Nigeria's palm oil industry, offering a model for how public-private partnerships can drive economic transformation at the sub-national level.