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 urgent clarity on the stalled Cocoa Board Bill, warning that its prolonged disappearance threatens the future of Nigeria’s cocoa industry and the livelihoods of millions of farmers.
In an open letter signed by Comrade Adeola Adegoke, National President of CFAN and Global President of COFAAA, cocoa stakeholders praised the President’s efforts to reform the sector. However, they expressed concern that months of silence on the bill have left farmers, cooperatives, exporters, and investors in limbo, unsure if the legislation is still under review or abandoned altogether.
The letter recalled that the bill was read in the House of Representatives on November 13, 2025, only to be withdrawn the next day for amendments.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, before the Presidency requested a step-down on November 12. Since then, no official update has been provided, despite the government publicly celebrating the reinstatement of the Cocoa Board.
“While the administration has hailed the reinstatement of the Cocoa Board, the enabling law has not been passed, and no functional board exists. This gap between public statements and legislative reality has created widespread anxiety in the sector,” the letter stated.
CFAN and COFAAA emphasized that a well-structured Cocoa Board is critical to reviving Nigeria’s cocoa industry. Such a board would coordinate the entire value chain, ensuring efficiency from production to processing to distribution. It would also strengthen quality assurance, traceability, and sustainability, allowing Nigerian cocoa to meet international standards and compete globally.
A functional board, the associations noted, would improve farmers’ income stability, provide access to research and innovation, and enhance climate resilience in a sector highly vulnerable to environmental changes. Importantly, it would also attract both local and foreign investment, boosting Nigeria’s competitiveness and unlocking economic opportunities for rural communities and the nation as a whole.
CFAN and COFAAA urged the President to clarify the current status of the bill, address the disconnect between public promises and legislative progress, and expedite its passage through the National Assembly. They also called on the government to reaffirm its commitment to strengthening institutional frameworks, ensuring sustainable growth and confidence in the sector.
The letter highlighted the economic significance of cocoa as a critical non-oil export, generating foreign exchange, supporting rural livelihoods, and contributing to national diversification efforts. Copies 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 with a warning: “Without clarity and decisive action, Nigeria risks losing ground to other cocoa-producing nations, and the hard-earned gains of our farmers could be undermined. The time to act is now.”