Nigeria generated N356.16b worth of Cocoa beans and its allied products in 2023. It also accounted for 28.72 per cent of total agricultural exports (N1.24tr) in 2023 and 5.6 per cent of non-oil exports, which makes it the highest agricultural contributor to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

As at last January, a ton of the produce, valued at N1.8m, is currently valued at N11.2m per ton in the Nigerian market, which implies that cocoa development in the country is economically viable for investment both locally and internationally.

But despite its current position, the country is still faced with the impending European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) threats and access to the carbon credit funds, necessitating the need for an emergency in the cocoa sector.

Saddled with the task of guaranteeing quality, traceability, transparency, and sustainability in Cocoa Value Chain, the National Cocoa Management Committee (NCMC), a national coordinating body for the sector, seems to have taken the bull by the horn, to reposition the industry.

At its inaugural meeting, held in November 2022 in Abuja, the NCMC came up with draft Bill for the establishment of the National Cocoa Management Board/Commission for the management of Cocoa Value Chain in the country.

The meeting discussed issues on how to develop a framework for the coordination, regulations, and monitoring of Cocoa activities in the country and European Union Child Labour/EUDR for implementation and compliance.

Last week, the members of the body held a parley with the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari in Abuja, where it disclosed its terms of reference to include – development of a framework for the regulation and monitoring of the activities of the cocoa sector, to make the industry more transparent; and to develop a strategic plan towards the establishment of a Nigerian Cocoa Board/Commission.

Others include the task of upscaling their activities to all cocoa producing states and organising and conducting a national conference for Commissioners of Agriculture from 36 states and FCT to sensitise them on the importance of cocoa and efforts of the Federal Government towards increased production, among others.

Led by its Chairman, Engr. A. G. Abubakar of the Federal Ministry of Agric and Food Security, the body listed its challenges, to include funding of the committee activities; lack of legislative backing; meeting the EUDR target on deforestation, and lack of national traceability system in Nigeria.

To transform the fortune of the industry, the members are seeking need for strengthening of NCMC to metamorphose into National Cocoa Board as obtained in Ghana Cote d’Ivoire and Cameroon; the need for an emergency in the cocoa sector to avoid the impending EUDR threats and access to the carbon credit funds.

“There is urgent need for Nigeria’s EUDR Preparedness Assessment Check. This is in line with the request by EU through EU representative; Mr Rikard Nordeman that Nigeria signifies interest to be supported via writing.

“Partial regulation of the Cocoa Industry to guarantee quality, transparency, traceability, and sustainability, the need for a Central National Cocoa Database and Forest/Cocoa plantations remapping for the purpose of Traceability and Certification, Deforestation-Free and Legality Compliance records. There is the need for the implementation of the 10 year National Cocoa Plan (2023-2032) by the NCMC.”

The NCMC is seeking the support of the Minister to access a special fund for cocoa development from the Africa Development Bank (AfDB), which Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana have accessed.

In his response, the Minister, Kyari, who said the establishment of NCMC is premised on the importance of cocoa to the economy of Nigeria, added that the body is in good position to implement the National Cocoa Plan being championed by both Federal Ministries of Agriculture & Food Security and Industry, Trade and Investment.

“This is with a view to boosting the production of cocoa and for Nigeria to take its rightful place in the league of Cocoa producing countries in the world.
“On the issue of the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) threats to Nigerian Cocoa, it is therefore more urgent than ever for Nigeria’s EUDR Preparedness Assessment Check to be undertaken and therefore FMAFS will support the European Union (EU) to embark on the assessment as was done for other Cocoa producing countries such as Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire and so on.”

While assuring that the ministry will work through the NCMC to access the development fund for the development of Cocoa sector and the implementation of the National Cocoa Plan (2023-2032), Kyari urged the committee members to put all hands-on deck to champion the way forward for Nigerian cocoa thereby achieving all set objectives of NCMC.