The federal government has initiated plans to create a National Cocoa Management Board (NCMB) to reposition Nigeria’s cocoa industry and boost its global competitiveness.
In a letter dated November 12, 2025, President Bola Tinubu urged the House of Representatives to expedite action on the “National Cocoa Management Board (Establishment) Bill, 2025.”
The bill proposes a central body to regulate, promote, and harmonise all cocoa-related activities across the country.
Agriculture and Food Security Minister Abubakar Kyari said the board would coordinate the cocoa value chain, ensure quality control, support plantation rehabilitation, and improve farmers’ access to credit.
The proposal follows the Federal Executive Council’s approval of the draft bill in May 2025.
Nigeria, once the world’s second-largest cocoa producer, has lagged behind Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire in recent decades.
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The new board aims to revive production, enhance export value, and increase foreign exchange earnings.
Industry stakeholders, however, have called for transparency, farmer inclusion, and efficiency to avoid the pitfalls that plagued past commodity boards.
The bill has been forwarded to the House for legislative consideration.
Once passed, the government is expected to appoint a governing council and develop an operational framework for implementation.