The Federal Government has clarified that it has no plans to ban the export of raw cocoa beans, stressing that its priority is to promote value addition and expand local cocoa processing.
The Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, made the clarification in a statement following public discussions suggesting that the Federal Government intended to prohibit raw cocoa exports.
According to the Minister, the government’s objective is to strengthen Nigeria’s cocoa industry by encouraging greater domestic processing while maintaining the country’s reputation as a reliable exporter of cocoa under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He explained that raw cocoa exports would continue to play a significant role as the country builds its local processing capacity, adding that the government is creating an enabling environment to attract investment in cocoa processing, improve farmers’ incomes, generate employment and increase earnings from every tonne of cocoa produced.
Senator Kyari also noted that the policy aligns with ongoing efforts to boost Nigeria’s agricultural exports through improved traceability and compliance with international standards, ensuring continued access to premium global markets.
He reaffirmed that the Federal Government is not banning raw cocoa exports but is focused on promoting value addition to enable Nigeria to derive greater economic benefits from its cocoa industry while remaining competitive in the global market.
