Nigeria and France both agreed on managing resource to develop non-oil industry in Nigeria through signing the November 2000 bilateral agreement. To pursue the agreement, the Agence Francaise Development (AFD) is reported to build a multi-billion dollar facility in Nigeria to promote an increase in the rubber production in Nigeria.
The French government’s development catalyst, will provide the funds to help the Rubber Out-Growers Expansion Programme expand the the capacity of Nigeria to produce rubber.
According to Nigeria, the funding will turn 18 million hectares of land into the rubber plantation which can have the capacity to produce 11% of the African rubber market share, while 50% is from ivory coast.
The promoters of this activity believe that with the boost in rubber production, will bring Nigeria to the right path and diversify its dependence to another industry. (RJA)