TINUBU SEEKS NATIONAL ASSEMBLY APPROVAL TO ESTABLISH NATIONAL COCOA MANAGEMENT BOARD

By Ademola Adekusibe
November 12, 2025.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has written to the House of Representatives seeking approval for the establishment of a National Cocoa Management Board, a move aimed at reviving and repositioning Nigeria’s cocoa industry for global competitiveness.

Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, read the President’s letter during plenary on Wednesday in Abuja. He explained that the executive bill was transmitted to the legislature in accordance with Section 58 (2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

In the letter, President Tinubu urged lawmakers to give “kind consideration” to the National Cocoa Management Board Establishment Bill, 2025, which seeks to regulate, promote, and harmonise cocoa-related activities across the country.

According to the President, the establishment of the Board will “enhance effective coordination of the cocoa value chain, improve standards, and strengthen Nigeria’s participation in the global economy.”

The National Cocoa Management Board, if passed into law, is expected to oversee production, processing, marketing, and export of cocoa, one of Nigeria’s major non-oil export commodities. The agency will also be charged with improving farmers’ welfare, promoting sustainable cultivation practices, and ensuring that Nigeria meets international standards for cocoa exports.

Nigeria was once the world’s second-largest producer of cocoa in the 1960s and early 1970s, contributing significantly to national revenue before the oil boom shifted attention from agriculture. Today, the country ranks behind Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Indonesia in global cocoa production, with challenges such as aging trees, poor financing, and lack of coordination hindering the sector’s growth.

The proposed board is therefore seen as part of President Tinubu’s broader effort to diversify the economy and boost agricultural exports under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

If approved by the National Assembly, the bill will set out the framework for licensing, regulation, and partnership with state governments, research institutions, and private investors to modernize the industry and restore Nigeria’s competitive edge in the global cocoa market.