The urgent plea from Nigeria cocoa farmers to the Presidency
Our cocoa farmers in Nigeria are not smiling at all right now. As the backbone of our non oil exports, these hardworking men and women have been waiting patiently for the Federal Government to fulfill its promise of a proper regulatory body. The latest gist is that the Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria, led by their National President, Adeola Adegoke, has sent an open letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The message is simple but very heavy: “Oga Presido, what is the level with our new board?” For a sector that brings in billions of dollars and keeps thousands of families afloat, this silence from the corridors of power is beginning to feel like a cold shoulder. As an editor watching the economic trends, I can tell you that when the people producing our “brown gold” start feeling uneasy, the whole country should pay attention.
Why the National Cocoa Management Board delay is causing wahala
The “koko” of the matter is the Nigerian Cocoa Board Establishment Bill. This bill was supposed to be the game changer that would finally bring order to the industry. We all remember when it was transmitted to the National Assembly back in November 2025.
It even got a first reading in the House of Representatives, but just as farmers were about to celebrate, the Presidency pulled it back for “corrections and amendments.” Since that day, everything has gone quiet. This prolonged silence is creating a lot of uncertainty in the market.
Farmers are asking if the bill has been abandoned or if it is just stuck in the usual bureaucratic slow motion that we know too well in this country. Without a board to regulate prices and provide support, the farmers are left to face the vagaries of the market alone, and that is a very risky position to be in.
Navigating global market hurdles and the EUDR deadline
This is not just about local politics; there is a major international deadline breathing down our necks. The European Union Deforestation Regulation is a very serious matter that could block Nigerian cocoa from entering the European market if we don’t have our house in order.
We are talking about over one billion dollars in investment that could just “enter bush” if we don’t have a recognized regulatory body to certify our products. The farmers are worried that while other cocoa producing nations are moving fast to meet these global standards, Nigeria is still dragging its feet over a bill.
If we miss the boat on EU compliance, the ripple effect on our foreign exchange earnings will be felt by everyone, not just those on the farms in Ondo or Cross River.
A call for the Renewed Hope agenda to reach the cocoa farms
At the end of the day, these farmers are only asking for the “Renewed Hope” that was promised during the campaigns. They want to see the government’s commitment to agriculture move beyond speeches and ceremonies into actual, signed legislation.
A functional Cocoa Board would not only protect the farmers from exploitation but would also boost our production capacity to compete with the likes of Ivory Coast and Ghana. The farmers have done their part by staying productive despite the high cost of inputs and the challenges of climate change.
Now, it is time for the Presidency to show that they truly value the sweat of the Nigerian farmer. We hope that President Tinubu hears this cry and gives the order for the bill to return to the National Assembly so that the cocoa revolution can finally begin in earnest.
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