The Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria (CFAN) and the Cocoa Farmers Alliance Association of Africa (COFAAA) have called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to provide clarity on the stalled Cocoa Board Bill, warning that its prolonged disappearance from public view threatens the stability of Nigeria’s cocoa industry.
In an open letter signed by Comrade Adeola Adegoke, National President of CFAN and Global President of COFAAA, the cocoa community expressed appreciation for the President’s efforts to reform the sector. However, they cautioned that the silence on the bill since November 2025 has left farmers, cooperatives, exporters, and investors in a state of uncertainty.
The letter detailed that the bill was read in the House of Representatives on November 13, 2025, only to be withdrawn the next day for amendments. Similarly, the Senate received the bill on November 10, 2025, but the Presidency requested its step-down on November 12. Since then, no official update has been communicated, leaving stakeholders unsure whether the legislation is still under review or has been abandoned altogether.
“While the administration has publicly celebrated the reinstatement of the Cocoa Board, the enabling law has not been passed, and no functional board exists. This gap between public representation and legislative reality has caused anxiety across the sector,” the letter said.
CFAN and COFAAA stressed that a well-structured Cocoa Board is critical to Nigeria’s cocoa industry. Beyond regulating the sector, the board would coordinate the entire value chain, ensuring production, processing, and distribution are efficient and sustainable. It would also strengthen quality assurance, traceability, and compliance, helping Nigerian cocoa meet global standards and compete internationally.
The associations highlighted that a functional board would improve farmer welfare and income stability, provide access to research and innovation, and enhance climate resilience across the sector. They added that a robust Cocoa Board would also attract investment and create opportunities for global partnerships, boosting Nigeria’s position in the international cocoa market.
Urging decisive action, CFAN and COFAAA called on the President to clarify the current status of the bill, address the disconnect between public statements and legislative progress, and expedite its passage through the National Assembly. The associations also emphasized the need for the government to reaffirm its commitment to strengthening institutional frameworks to ensure sustainable growth in Nigeria’s cocoa industry.
The letter further underscored the economic significance of cocoa as a non-oil export, noting that the sector supports rural livelihoods, generates foreign exchange, and contributes to national diversification. Copies of the letter were also sent to the Senate President, Rt. Hon. Godswill Akpabio; the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen; the Ministers of Agriculture and Trade; and the Chairman of the National Cocoa Management Committee.
Comrade Adegoke concluded that clarity and swift action are urgently needed to restore confidence in Nigeria’s cocoa sector and prevent the country from falling behind other global cocoa-producing nations.
Cocoa Stakeholders Demand Urgent Update on Missing Cocoa Board Bill
