By Stella Odueme
The Federal Government has dismissed reports suggesting it plans to ban the export of raw cocoa beans, reaffirming that its priority is to promote value addition through increased local processing rather than restrict exports.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, who made the clarification on statement, said the government’s cocoa policy is designed to strengthen the industry and improve returns for farmers and the national economy.
According to the minister, Nigeria will continue exporting raw cocoa while creating conditions that encourage investors to establish more local processing facilities.
“The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has noted public discussions suggesting that the Federal Government intends to ban the export of raw cocoa beans. This is not the position of the Government. Our objective is value addition, not an export ban,” Kyari stated.
He explained that the policy aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to build a globally competitive cocoa sector by expanding domestic processing capacity without disrupting Nigeria’s role in the international cocoa trade.
Kyari noted that the government intends to generate greater economic value from cocoa production by supporting investments in processing, improving farmers’ earnings, creating employment opportunities and increasing export revenues.
“Our goal is to create an enabling environment that encourages more investment in processing, increases farmers’ incomes, creates jobs, and enables Nigeria to earn more from every tonne of cocoa produced,” he said.
The minister further disclosed that the initiative complements ongoing efforts to enhance Nigeria’s agricultural exports through improved product traceability and strict compliance with international standards, measures he said would help preserve access to premium global markets.
Reiterating the government’s position, Kyari stressed that raw cocoa exports remain an important component of Nigeria’s export strategy even as the country pursues greater value addition.
“The message is clear: the Federal Government is not banning raw cocoa exports. We are promoting value addition so that Nigeria captures more value from its cocoa while remaining competitive in the global market,” the minister said.
