No Ban on Raw Cocoa Exports, FG Clarifies
The Federal Government has officially dismissed widespread reports suggesting an impending ban on the export of raw cocoa beans, clarifying that its policy is focused on promoting local value addition rather than restricting exports.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, made the clarification in a statement issued on Friday, following public discussions triggered by President Bola Tinubu’s address at the Cocoa Value Addition Summit 2026 in Abuja. The President had declared that Nigeria would no longer export raw beans while importing finished chocolate products, unveiling an ambitious plan to transform the industry through local processing and industrialisation.
“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. Our objective is value addition, not an export ban,” Kyari stated.
According to the minister, the government’s priority under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda is to build a globally competitive cocoa industry by encouraging greater domestic processing while allowing raw cocoa exports to continue as processing capacity expands.
“Our goal is to create an enabling environment that encourages more investment in processing, increases farmers’ incomes, creates jobs, and enables Nigeria to earn more from every tonne of cocoa produced,” Kyari said.
He emphasised that raw cocoa exports will continue to play an important role in Nigeria’s export strategy as the country gradually expands its domestic processing capacity.
Cocoa remains Nigeria’s most significant agricultural export and a key driver of non-oil export revenue. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), superior-quality cocoa beans generated N596.9 billion in export earnings during the first quarter of 2026, accounting for approximately 51 per cent of total agricultural exports. When exports of cocoa butter, standard-quality cocoa beans and roasted cocoa beans are included, cocoa-related products contributed more than N643 billion to agricultural export earnings.
Despite an overall decline in agricultural exports, natural cocoa butter ranked as the sixth most exported agricultural product, generating N41.69 billion and accounting for 3.56 per cent of total agricultural export earnings reflecting Nigeria’s gradual shift toward exporting more processed cocoa products.
Nigeria is the world’s fourth-largest cocoa producer, with production projected at approximately 305,000 tonnes for the 2025/26 season. However, the country has historically exported the vast majority of its cocoa in raw form.
The Bank of Industry (BOI) disclosed at the summit that Nigeria produces more than 300,000 metric tonnes of cocoa annually but has an effective grinding capacity of only about 50,000 tonnes, much of which remains underutilised. BOI has disbursed more than N164 billion to over 3,500 agro-processing businesses and secured a €60 million credit facility from the European Investment Bank to accelerate cocoa value addition.
Investors are currently developing a 70,000-tonne cocoa processing facility in Sagamu, Ogun State described as the largest in Nigeria’s history while the country’s installed cocoa grinding capacity has exceeded 120,000 tonnes annually.
Kyari added that the government’s approach aligns with ongoing efforts to strengthen agricultural exports through improved traceability and compliance with international standards, ensuring continued access to premium global markets.
“The message is clear: the Federal Government is not banning raw cocoa exports. We are promoting value addition so that Nigeria captures more value from its cocoa while remaining competitive in the global market,” the minister said.