The Federal Government has emphasized its commitment to reclaiming Nigeria’s rightful position among the world’s top cocoa-producing countries so as to boost job creation, economic growth, and food security in the country
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar
Kyari, made this disclosure on Monday, January 26, 2026, at the International
Cocoa and Chocolate Forum (ICCF 2026) in London, UK.
Speaking on the theme “Reclaiming Value, Shaping Rules:
Nigeria’s Vision for Cocoa Sovereignty”, Kyari highlighted that the country has
natural advantages in cocoa production, including fertile soils, suitable
agro-ecological zones, and a deeply rooted farming tradition.
The minister disclosed that the President Bola Ahmed
Tinubu-led administration is committed to supporting sustainable development
initiatives, promoting responsible foreign investment, and advancing efforts to
increase productivity, expand trade, and deepen economic activity across the
agricultural sector
He revealed that Nigeria is strengthening economic ties
through the African Continental Free Trade Area, AfCFTA, to enhance
intra-African trade and global competitiveness. This aims to promote regulatory
compliance, carbon-smart cocoa production, and youth inclusion in agriculture.
The minister added that Nigeria has gazetted its Provisional
Schedule of Tariff Concessions and is advancing AfCFTA implementation,
projected to boost intra-African trade by 53.3% by 2026 while also engaging
with international partners like the EU and CPTPP to promote trade sovereignty
He stated further that to support sustainable cocoa
production, Nigeria has among others, enacted the Climate Change Act, Committed
to the European Union Deforestation Regulation, EUDR, and established the
National Task Force on its Compliance as well as developed a National Cocoa
Development Plan
Kyari outlined Nigeria’s efforts to ensure EUDR compliance,
including the establishment of the National Task Force on EUDR Compliance and
the development of a White Paper on EUDR implementation, noting that Nigeria
aims to convert EUDR compliance into a competitive advantage through
public-private partnerships, geospatial capabilities, and innovative financing
solutions.
He emphasized Nigeria’s commitment to sustainable
development, climate resilience, and youth inclusion in the cocoa sector. The
country has enacted the Climate Change Act, articulated a clear pathway to
net-zero emissions by 2060, and is implementing the National Cocoa Development
Plan to promote modern farming practices and value chain development.
He noted that “Nigeria is among others, focusing on
climate-smart agriculture, green compliance, adoption of sustainable practices
that enhance crop resilience and mitigate the impacts of climate change as well
as improving farmers livelihoods through targeted training, access to finance,
and stronger market linkages”.
He hailed the meeting as a crucial step towards revitalizing
cocoa production and promoting economic development in Nigeria and Africa,
commending its conveners, particularly HRM Oba Dokun Thompson, for creating a
platform for partnership, dialogue, and cultural exchange that can drive
socio-economic growth across the continent.
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