FRI JULY 17 2026-theGBJournal| The Federal Government has dismissed reports suggesting it plans to prohibit the export of raw cocoa beans, clarifying that its policy is aimed at expanding domestic processing and increasing value addition rather than restricting trade.
In a statement issued by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, the government said speculation about an impending export ban does not reflect its position, stressing that raw cocoa exports will remain part of Nigeria’s cocoa value chain even as authorities seek to deepen local processing capacity.
The clarification comes amid public debate over the government’s cocoa policy and growing calls for African producers to process more of their agricultural commodities domestically to capture a greater share of global value chains.
“The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has noted public discussions suggesting that the Federal Government intends to ban the export of raw cocoa beans.
This is not the position of the Government,” Kyari said.
According to the minister, the government’s objective is value addition, not an export ban.
He said that under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the Federal Government remains committed to building a globally competitive cocoa industry by encouraging greater local processing while preserving Nigeria’s reputation as a reliable exporter of cocoa.
Kyari explained that raw cocoa exports will continue to play an important role as the country expands its domestic processing capacity.
Rather than imposing export restrictions, the government intends to create an enabling environment that attracts investment into cocoa processing, raises farmers’ incomes, creates jobs and enables Nigeria to earn more from every tonne of cocoa produced.
The minister added that the strategy aligns with broader efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s agricultural export sector through improved traceability systems and compliance with international standards.
Those measures, he said, are designed to ensure Nigerian cocoa retains access to premium international markets while enhancing the country’s competitiveness.
“The message is clear: the Federal Government is not banning raw cocoa exports,” Kyari said. “We are promoting value addition so that Nigeria captures more value from its cocoa while remaining competitive in the global market.”
The statement provides the government’s clearest clarification yet that its cocoa policy is centred on industrialisation and export value enhancement, rather than limiting exports of raw beans.
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