The federal government has unveiled plans to reduce the export of raw cocoa beans and expand local processing as part of a broader industrial strategy aimed at retaining more value within the Nigerian economy.
The initiative forms part of the implementation of the Nigeria Industrial Policy (NIP) 2025, which the Ministry of Industry says is beginning to shift focus from the export of primary commodities to domestic value addition and manufacturing.
For decades, Nigeria has remained one of Africa’s major cocoa producers, yet much of its output has been exported in raw form, allowing foreign manufacturers to capture most of the value through processing into chocolate, confectionery and other finished products.
The government said its new approach seeks to reverse that trend by encouraging investments in domestic processing facilities and creating stronger links between agricultural production and manufacturing.
According to a 90-day progress report released on Friday in Abuja by the office of the Minister of State for Industry, John Owan Enoh, preparations are underway for a national Cocoa Value Chain Summit scheduled for July 2026, with the objective of strengthening local cocoa processing and building globally competitive Nigerian brands.
