Senator Abubakar Kyari Minister of Agriculture and Food Security
Federal Government has dismissed reports suggesting it plans to prohibit the export of raw cocoa beans, clarifying that its priority is to promote value addition and strengthen Nigeria’s cocoa industry rather than impose an export ban.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, made the clarification in a statement on Saturday following public discussions over the government’s policy direction on cocoa exports.
According to the minister, the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains committed to developing a globally competitive cocoa industry by encouraging increased local processing while sustaining Nigeria’s role as a dependable exporter of cocoa.
“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,” Kyari stated.
“Our objective is value addition, not an export ban.”
He explained that although the government is working to expand domestic processing capacity, exports of raw cocoa beans will continue to play a significant role in the sector.
“Under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, the Federal Government is committed to building a globally competitive cocoa industry by encouraging greater local processing while maintaining Nigeria’s position as a reliable exporter of cocoa.”
The minister noted that the government’s strategy is aimed at creating an investment-friendly environment that will stimulate local processing, improve earnings for cocoa farmers, generate employment opportunities and increase the country’s export value.
“Raw cocoa exports will continue to play an important role as we expand domestic processing capacity. 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.
Kyari further explained that the policy aligns with ongoing efforts to improve the quality and competitiveness of Nigeria’s agricultural exports through enhanced traceability systems and compliance with international standards.
“This approach is also consistent with our efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s agricultural exports through improved traceability and compliance with international standards, ensuring continued access to premium global markets,” he added.
Reiterating the government’s position, the minister stressed that the focus remains on increasing the value derived from Nigeria’s cocoa production without disrupting the country’s export trade.
“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,” Kyari said.
