The National Rubber Producers, Processors, and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NARPPMAN) has revealed that over 60% of Nigeria’s rubber production potential remains untapped, calling for urgent intervention to revive the ailing sector.
The National President of NARPPMAN, Mr. Peter Igbinosun made the call during a media chat on Tuesday in Benin City. He urged the Federal Government to prioritise the rubber industry due to its strategic value to national economic growth and diversification.
“Only 40% of our rubber potential is currently being utilised. As of 2020, just 160,000 hectares of land were cultivated with rubber, a fraction of the over 20 million hectares of suitable land available in Nigeria,” he said.
Igbinosun described this underutilisation as a missed opportunity for a crop with strong export value and industrial significance. He emphasized that rubber, once Nigeria’s third-largest foreign exchange earner after oil and cocoa, has lost global competitiveness due to decades of neglect.
Between 2014 and 2019, Nigeria’s annual natural rubber production ranged between 140,000 and 151,000 metric tonnes—showing little to no growth. The country currently contributes only about 6% of Africa’s total rubber output, despite vast arable land and favourable climatic conditions.
Referencing a report by Cobalt International, Igbinosun noted that Nigeria earned $140.46 million from rubber exports in 2013, ranking 12th globally. In contrast, Malaysia earned $2.2 billion that same year.
“By 2020, Nigeria’s export revenue from rubber had dropped sharply to $20.9 million, reducing our global ranking to 23rd among rubber-exporting countries,” he said.
Igbinosun acknowledged ongoing efforts by NARPPMAN, the Rubber Research Institute of Nigeria (RRIN), and other stakeholders to revive the sector, but said much more needs to be done.
He urged the Federal Government to formulate a National Rubber Policy through the Central Bank of Nigeria to facilitate long-term financing for rubber cultivation and processing.
In addition, he called on state governments to collaborate with NARPPMAN by developing state-level rubber development strategies, allocating land to rubber farmers, and providing input support.
Key Policy Recommendations
- Re-establishment of the National Rubber Board to oversee development and ensure market stability.
- Creation of a national rubber production database to monitor output, forecast demand, and inform investment and policy direction.
- Investment in manpower development through agribusiness training and skill acquisition programs for rubber farmers and processors.
“The rubber sector cannot reach its full potential without a coordinated national approach. It’s time to put in place the right policies, funding mechanisms, and institutional support to make rubber a cornerstone of Nigeria’s non-oil economy,” Igbinosun said.
