Nigeria: NACCIMA Commends Govt Ban On Export of Raw Cocoa

What the report says

AllAfrica, carrying a This Day report from Lagos dated 22 July 2026, reported that the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture has welcomed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ban on the export of raw cocoa beans. NACCIMA’s national president, Jani Ibrahim, described the move as a timely policy intervention consistent with the association’s push for value addition, industrial growth and stronger domestic industries.

According to the report, Ibrahim argued that Nigeria should move away from relying mainly on raw agricultural commodity exports while other countries capture more value through processing and manufacturing. He said prioritising local cocoa processing could improve foreign exchange earnings, attract investment into processing plants, support direct and indirect employment, encourage technology transfer and make Nigerian cocoa products more competitive internationally.

The report also said NACCIMA expects the policy to strengthen connections across the cocoa value chain, including farmers, processors, exporters and other industry participants. Ibrahim linked the wider objective to growth in manufacturing and agro-processing, sectors often cited as important for job creation and economic diversification in Nigeria.

This Day also noted that Ibrahim referenced NACCIMA’s recent Nigeria Infrastructure Conference, known as INFRACON, which he said was intended to mobilise private-sector capital to address infrastructure gaps. The article did not provide details on the legal instrument for the cocoa export ban, its implementation timeline, exemptions or how affected exporters and farmers would be supported during any transition.