Stakeholders across Nigeria’s cocoa industry have vowed to intensify efforts ahead of the European Union’s December 2025 deadline for compliance with its deforestation-free regulation (EUDR). The commitment aims to safeguard Nigeria’s cocoa exports while promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
The pledge came during a Roundtable on EUDR Compliance held at the Presidential Villa’s Banquet Hall in Abuja. The event was jointly organized by the Office of the Vice-President, EU representatives, cocoa-producing states, and private sector actors.
Discussions centered on financing, institutional coordination, and technology-driven strategies to ensure Nigeria’s cocoa remains competitive internationally and that the country’s forests are protected.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Agribusiness and Productivity Enhancement, Kingsley Uzoma, highlighted cocoa’s growing significance in Nigeria’s economic diversification. He noted a remarkable 606% increase in cocoa exports during the last quarter of 2024, soaring from N171 billion to N1.2 trillion. Cocoa now accounts for 29% of agricultural exports and 5.6% of total non-oil exports.
“Cocoa is no longer just a commodity; it is a key pillar of our economic transformation and a major driver of our green economy agenda,” Uzoma said. He added that the EUDR’s requirement for deforestation-free supply chains aligns closely with Nigeria’s climate ambitions and creates opportunities for innovations in traceability, climate-smart farming, and local processing.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Abubakar Kyari, who was represented by Ajayi Olutobaba, Deputy Director of Cocoa, affirmed Nigeria’s readiness to meet EU standards. He stressed the importance of establishing a harmonized national traceability and sustainability system under government oversight to ensure data control and facilitate verification.
Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment Jumoke Oduwole, described the compliance challenge as a transformative opportunity for Nigeria Africa’s fourth-largest cocoa exporter. With the EU importing over 60% of Nigeria’s cocoa, she emphasized that meeting EUDR requirements is crucial for economic growth, environmental stewardship, and development.
“Compliance isn’t optional; it’s about prioritizing Nigeria’s sustainable land use, supporting farmers and investors, and achieving our one trillion dollar economy goal under the Renewed Hope Agenda,” Oduwole stated.
Echoing this, Zissimos Vergos, Chargé d’Affaires of the EU Delegation to Nigeria, urged the National Cocoa Board to position Nigeria as a global leader in cocoa production.
Meanwhile, Taiwo Osho, Sustainability Manager at Tulip Cocoa Processes Ltd., called for urgent clarity on protected area boundaries to prevent illegal farming. He noted that confusion over land limits, low productivity, and limited farmland access remain significant challenges despite growing interest in cocoa farming.
