FG Not Banning Raw Cocoa Exports, Committed to Value Addition– Kyari
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has clarified that the Federal Government has no plans to ban the export of raw cocoa beans, contrary to public discussions.
In a statement signed on Friday, 17th July 2026 by the Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, he stated that the government’s objective is to promote value addition, not to impose an export ban.
Senator Kyari stated further that under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Federal Government is committed to building a globally competitive cocoa industry by encouraging greater local processing while maintaining Nigeria’s position as a reliable exporter of cocoa.
“Raw cocoa exports will continue to play an important role as we expand domestic processing capacity. 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,” the Minister said.
He also said that this approach is consistent with ongoing efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s agricultural exports through improved traceability and compliance with international standards, to ensure 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,” Senator Kyari concluded.
