‘Politicisation hindering Nigeria’s cocoa industry development’

The Minister of State for Industry, John Uwan-Enoh, has stated that the under-development of Nigeria’s cocoa industry is a direct result of its politicisation, lamenting the underdevelopment of the cocoa industry despite the country’s abundance of cash crops.

During an interview, he revealed that several initiatives aimed at establishing a thriving cocoa industry in Cross River state had been frustrated by political interference. He stressed that the people of the state and Nigerians at large would greatly benefit from initiatives aimed at transforming cocoa raw materials into finished products.

Stressing the importance of industrialisation, he said, the country should be talking about large-scale industries as no country attains development without industrialisation. He highlighted that with the cocoa estates established during the era of the Eastern Region, Cross River remains Nigeria’s second-largest producer of cocoa.

He revealed that the Federal Government, in partnership with the African Development Bank (AfDB), is developing special agricultural economic zones, with eight states selected for the pilot phase.

Expressing optimism, he said that with this collaboration, Nigeria should be able to stop exporting raw cocoa and focus on adding value to.

The minister noted that Cross River, being one of the states with significant cocoa production, is among those included in the programme, which targets the development of key crops.

The cocoa industry in Nigeria, one of the country’s most significant agricultural sectors, has faced numerous challenges over the years, despite the nation’s position as one of the largest producers of cocoa beans globally. The cocoa farming population in Nigeria is ageing, with fewer younger farmers entering the industry.