Nigeria is intensifying efforts to expand its cocoa industry while meeting the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) standards, positioning the crop as a key driver of economic diversification, job creation, and sustainable trade.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Agribusiness and Productivity Enhancement, Kingsley Uzoma, speaking on Monday at the Nigeria-EU Cocoa Roundtable on EUDR Compliance in Abuja, described cocoa as “a cornerstone of Nigeria’s economic diversification agenda” and a strategic non-oil export.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics, Nigeria’s cocoa exports surged by 606 per cent in the last quarter of 2024, rising from about ₦171 billion in the previous quarter of 2023 to ₦1.2 trillion.
Cocoa now accounts for around 29 per cent of the nation’s total agricultural exports and 5.6 per cent of non-oil exports.
“Cocoa is no longer just a commodity; it is a strategic lever in our economic transformation,” Uzoma said, noting that over 300,000 smallholder farmers produce approximately 80 per cent of Nigeria’s cocoa, contributing about six per cent to the global supply. The government has set a production target of 500,000 tonnes by 2025.
Uzoma emphasised the importance of EUDR compliance, which mandates traceability, due diligence, and proof of deforestation-free supply chains.
He said the regulation aligns with Nigeria’s green economy agenda and is driving innovation in blockchain traceability, satellite mapping, and farmer support programmes that encourage sustainable farming without encroaching on forests.
To address compliance challenges, Uzoma proposed innovative financing options, including a dedicated cocoa sector credit line with flexible repayment terms.
He also revealed ongoing engagement with the Raw Materials Research and Development Council to strengthen research, innovation, and data management across the cocoa value chain.
The Minister of Trade and Investment, Olajumoke Oduwole, also addressed the roundtable, underscoring the role of technology, particularly space-based tools, in enhancing compliance and boosting productivity.
She highlighted the work of the space agency in providing satellite imagery to distinguish agricultural products and improve transparency, as well as the training of specialists to support agricultural development.
With the EU accounting for over 60 per cent of Nigeria’s cocoa exports, Oduwole stressed that compliance is “not optional” but a vital economic, environmental, and developmental necessity.
She said the government aims to leverage the cocoa sector to boost foreign exchange earnings, create jobs, strengthen food sovereignty, and contribute to achieving the $1 trillion economy target under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Source: Punch
