Cocoa farmers under the Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria (CFAN) and the Cocoa Farmers Alliance Association of Africa (COFAAA) have written an open letter to President Bola Tinubu, expressing concern over the disappearance and uncertain status of the Cocoa Board Establishment Bill submitted to the National Assembly in November 2025.
The letter, signed by Comrade Adeola Adegoke, National President of CFAN and Global President of COFAAA, urges the President to clarify the progress, location, and timeline of the proposed legislation, which farmers say is critical for the sustainability and development of Nigeria’s cocoa sector.
The Bill was formally transmitted to the House of Representatives and read on November 13, 2025.
However, the following day, the Speaker announced that the Presidency requested its withdrawal for corrections and amendments.
Since then, no official updates have been provided, leaving cocoa sector stakeholders uncertain about whether the Bill is under revision, has been withdrawn, or has been abandoned.
The associations also highlighted that the Cocoa Board has been publicly listed as a Tinubu administration achievement, despite the Bill not being passed into law.
Farmers warned that the lack of a functional Cocoa Board leaves the sector exposed to poor market coordination, limited institutional support, reduced access to loans and investment, and declining global competitiveness.
According to CFAN and COFAAA, the Bill is intended to regulate and coordinate Nigeria’s cocoa value chain, strengthen quality assurance, improve farmer welfare, support research and innovation, and attract investors and development partners.
The associations emphasised that the Cocoa Board is pivotal for sustainable growth and economic stability for millions of Nigerians who depend on cocoa for their livelihoods.
The letter requests four key actions from the President: clarify the current status and progress of the Cocoa Board Bill; address discrepancies between public claims and legislative reality; support timely review and advancement of the Bill through the National Assembly; and reaffirm the government’s commitment to strengthening institutional frameworks in the cocoa sector.
Copies of the letter were also sent to the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, and the Chairman of the National Cocoa Management Committee.
