Nigeria’s once-thriving rubber industry is facing a major setback as experts warn that aging rubber trees across plantations could cost the country an estimated $65 billion in lost export opportunities over the next decade.
Industry stakeholders say the country’s rubber plantations many of which were established in the 1960s and 1970s are now well past their peak productivity years, drastically reducing latex yield and threatening the livelihoods of thousands of smallholder farmers.
According to data from the Rubber Research Institute of Nigeria (RRIN), more than 70 percent of Nigeria’s existing rubber trees are over 30 years old, far beyond their optimal productive lifespan of 25 years.
“We are sitting on an economic time bomb,” said Dr. Peter Igho, a senior researcher at RRIN. “Nigeria’s rubber trees are aging, and without aggressive replanting programs, we risk losing a $65 billion opportunity in export revenue and job creation.”
At its peak in the 1970s, Nigeria was among the top five global exporters of natural rubber, with plantations spread across Edo, Delta, Ogun, Cross River, and Ondo states. However, years of neglect, inconsistent government policies, and lack of investment in replanting have crippled the sector.
The situation has also been worsened by land conversion for housing and cash crops such as oil palm, reducing the country’s total rubber plantation area to less than 200,000 hectares — a fraction of what is needed to compete internationally.
Analysts say that global demand for natural rubber, driven by the automotive and manufacturing sectors, is projected to hit $70 billion by 2030, presenting a lucrative opportunity for producing countries.
“Nigeria can reclaim its place in the global market,” said Emmanuel Oronsaye, President of the National Rubber Producers Association of Nigeria (NRPAN). “But we must act fast by investing in high-yield hybrid seedlings, modern tapping techniques, and rural infrastructure to support farmers.”
Stakeholders are calling on the Federal Government to implement a Rubber Replanting and Revitalization Fund, modeled after Malaysia’s successful program, which replaced old plantations and boosted exports exponentially.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has reportedly considered including rubber under its Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme (ACGS) to support replanting and value-chain expansion.
If properly managed, experts believe the rubber sector could generate hundreds of thousands of jobs, drive industrial growth through tire and footwear manufacturing, and contribute significantly to Nigeria’s non-oil export revenue.
“Nigeria’s rubber trees may be old, but the opportunities they represent are still young,” Dr. Igho said. “All we need is the political will and strategic investment to revive them.”
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