Nigerian govt says no plan to ban export of raw cocoa

By Doris Esa

Nigerian government on Friday denied report that is planning to ban export of raw cocoa.

Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, said this in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja.

However, the Minister said the government is promoting value addition to maximise earnings from cocoa as a commodity.

Kyari said reports suggesting that the Federal Government planned to ban the export of raw cocoa beans did not reflect its policy.

“Our objective is value addition, not an export ban,” he said.

He said that under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the government was committed to building a globally competitive cocoa industry by encouraging increased local processing while maintaining Nigeria’s position as a reliable cocoa exporter.

The minister said raw cocoa exports would continue to play an important role as the government expanded domestic processing capacity.

According to him, the goal is to create an enabling environment that attracts investment in cocoa processing, boosts farmers’ incomes, creates jobs and increases export earnings from every tonne of cocoa produced.

Kyari said the policy also aligns with efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s agricultural exports through improved traceability and compliance with international standards, ensuring continued access to premium global markets.

“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,” he said.

(NAN)