By Clarion Olusegun
The Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria (CFAN) has called on the Presidency to provide clarity on the status of the proposed Cocoa Board Bill, citing concerns over what was described as its “disappearance” after submission to the National Assembly in November 2025.
This call was made in an open letter signed by the National President of CFAN, Comrade Adeola Adegoke, and made available to AgroNigeria on Friday.
In the letter dated January 30, 2026, CFAN, alongside the Cocoa Farmers Alliance Association of Africa (COFAAA), commended President Tinubu for his efforts at transforming Nigeria’s socio-economic landscape and for showing commitment to reforming the cocoa sector.
However, the association expressed deep concern over the lack of official communication on the Cocoa Board Bill transmitted by the Presidency to the National Assembly on November 13, 2025.
“We write this open letter with the utmost respect and a strong sense of national responsibility regarding the proposed Cocoa Board Bill, which was transmitted by your office to the National Assembly and read by the House Speaker Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen at the House plenary.
“Your Excellency, you could recall over the past three years, under my leadership as National President of CFAN, and in collaboration with other cocoa sector stakeholders, there has been a joint and sustained demand for the reintroduction of a Nigerian Cocoa Board that will not be involved in the buying and selling of cocoa, but one established to regulate the sector, coordinate development efforts, and drive Nigeria’s cocoa sustainability growth.
“Nigeria occupies a strategic position among global cocoa-producing nations, with cocoa serving as a critical non-oil export commodity that supports rural livelihoods, generates foreign exchange, and contributes to national economic diversification.
“It was therefore received with optimism by industry stakeholders when the Federal Government yielded to the aspiration of the Cocoa industry players, especially, cocoa farmers, for the establishment of a Nigerian Cocoa Board that would not be involved in buying and selling, but for the sustainability, development, and regulation of the sector.
CFAN recalled that the bill, which was read at plenary by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, was reportedly withdrawn the following day for corrections and amendments.
Since then, according to the association, there has been no update on the bill’s status, progress, or whereabouts within the Presidency, creating uncertainty among cocoa sector stakeholders.
The association noted that a similar scenario played out in the Senate, where the National Cocoa Board Establishment Bill 2025 was submitted on November 10, 2025, before being stepped on since November 12, 2025.
The Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, announced the decision at plenary on November 18, 2025.
CFAN said no public update has followed since then.
According to the association, the prolonged silence has raised fears that the bill may have been abandoned, despite recent public representations suggesting that the reinstatement of the Cocoa Board is one of the achievements of the current administration.
CFAN warned that the absence of a functional Cocoa Board continues to expose Nigeria’s cocoa industry to weak market coordination, limited institutional support, and reduced global competitiveness, especially when compared with other cocoa-producing countries operating under strong commodity
boards.
Part of the statement reads: “Following the announcement of the arrival of the Cocoa Bill from the Presidency dated 13th November, 2025 at the preliminary session of the House of Representatives on Cocoa Board Establishment by the House
“Speaker, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, unfortunately, it was reported on the second day – 14th November, 2025, by the House Speaker that the Presidency called for the withdrawal of the Bill in order to make certain corrections and amendments.
“However, since that stage, there has been no official communication or public information on the current status, progress, or location of the Bill within the presidency.
“This prolonged silence has generated concern and uncertainty among stakeholders within the cocoa sector who have been enthusiastic by the presidency to drive a sustainable Cocoa economy for Nigeria.
“In the same vein, it is also on record that Your Excellency had earlier transmitted the National Cocoa Board Establishment Bill 2025 to the Senate on November 10, 2025 noting that the proposed Board would ensure effective coordination of the cocoa value chain, improve standards, and strengthen Nigeria’s participation in the global cocoa economy.
“However, Your Excellency later called for the step- down of the Bill in a letter dated 12th November, 2025 for further considerations, which the Senate President- Senator Godswill Akpabio read at the plenary session of the Senate on the 18th November, 2025.
“While stakeholders appreciate the need for further consultations on such an important national legislation, the concern remains that since the Bill was stood down, there has been no subsequent public update, clarification, or communication regarding its current status, progress, or future timeline.
“As of today, cocoa sector stakeholders do not know whether the Bill is undergoing revision, has been withdrawn, or has been abandoned altogether.
“More concerning is the recent public representation of the reinstatement of the Cocoa Board as one of the achievements of your administration, despite the fact that the Cocoa Board has not been reinstated in law or in practice; the enabling Bill has not been passed by the National Assembly; Stakeholders have received no official update on the Bill’s progression.
“This disconnection between public representation and legislative reality has created confusion, and uncertainty among cocoa farmers, cooperatives, processors, exporters, investors and development partners, many of whom rely on policy clarity and institutional certainty for engagement and investment decisions.
“The absence of a functional Cocoa Board continues to expose Nigeria’s cocoa industry to weak market coordination in defence of cocoa price falling at the international market now, limited institutional support, loan investment, and reduced global competitiveness, especially when compared with peer cocoa-producing countries that operate under strong, and well-structured commodity boards.”
The association further stated that the proposed Cocoa Board is expected to coordinate the cocoa value chain, strengthen quality assurance and sustainability compliance, improve farmer welfare and income stability, support research and climate resilience, and attract investors and development partners.
CFAN therefore urged President Tinubu to clarify the current status of the Cocoa Board Bill, address the gap between public claims and legislative reality, and support the timely review and advancement of the bill through the National Assembly, reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening institutional frameworks in the cocoa sector.
