The National President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Engr. Jani Ibrahim, mni, OON, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for the policy directive halting the export of raw cocoa beans in favour of local processing and value addition.
In a statement issued by the National Public Relations Officer of NACCIMA, Mrs. Madinat Adigun-Oladotun, Engr. Ibrahim described the move as a timely and strategic intervention. He noted that the decision directly aligns with NACCIMA’s long-standing advocacy for value addition, industrialisation, and the development of competitive local industries capable of creating jobs, increasing export earnings, and strengthening Nigeria’s economy.
According to the National President, Nigeria can no longer afford to remain primarily an exporter of raw agricultural commodities while other countries reap the greater economic benefits of processing and manufacturing finished products.
“The decision to prioritise local cocoa processing represents a significant step towards transforming Nigeria’s agricultural value chain,” Engr. Ibrahim stated.
“Beyond increasing foreign exchange earnings, it will stimulate investments in processing facilities, create thousands of direct and indirect jobs, encourage technology transfer, and enhance the global competitiveness of Nigerian cocoa products.”
He added that the policy holds the potential to catalyse growth across the manufacturing and agro-processing sectors while strengthening linkages between farmers, processors, exporters, and other key players in the cocoa value chain.
NACCIMA Boss, however, stressed that the ultimate success of the initiative depends heavily on the provision of an enabling business environment. He listed reliable power supply, improved transport infrastructure, affordable financing, policy consistency, and targeted incentives as critical requirements to encourage private sector investment in cocoa processing.
Engr. Ibrahim highlighted that this critical need for structural support was why NACCIMA, under his leadership, championed the recently concluded Nigeria Infrastructure Conference (INFRACON).
The summit was organized to mobilize private sector capital specifically aimed at addressing Nigeria’s persistent infrastructure deficits.
Rounding off the statement, the National President reaffirmed NACCIMA’s commitment to working closely with the Federal Government and relevant stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of the policy, aiming to unlock the full economic potential of Nigeria’s cocoa industry for sustainable national development.