Stakeholders Pledge to Meet EU Cocoa Compliance Deadline for Deforestation-Free Regulation

In a concerted effort to secure Nigeria’s cocoa exports and promote sustainable agricultural practices, key stakeholders in the country’s cocoa industry have committed to accelerating their actions to meet the European Union’s (EU) December 2025 deadline for compliance with its deforestation-free regulation (EUDR).

The stakeholders made this pledge during a Roundtable on EUDR Compliance, hosted at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

The roundtable, organized by the Office of the Vice-President in collaboration with EU representatives, cocoa-producing states, and private sector stakeholders, focused on financing options, institutional coordination, and technology-driven solutions to ensure Nigeria’s cocoa industry remains competitive in global markets while safeguarding its forests.

Dr. Kingsley Uzoma, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Agribusiness and Productivity Enhancement, highlighted cocoa’s growing role in Nigeria’s economic diversification agenda.

He revealed that cocoa exports had surged by 606 percent in the last quarter of 2024, jumping from N171 billion the previous year to N1.2 trillion, accounting for 29 percent of agricultural exports and 5.6 percent of total non-oil exports.

“Cocoa is no longer just a commodity; it is a vital contributor to our economic transformation and a driver of our green economy agenda,” Uzoma emphasized.

The push to comply with EUDR, which mandates proof of deforestation-free supply chains, aligns with Nigeria’s climate goals, creating new opportunities for innovations in traceability, climate-smart farming and local processing.

Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, echoed the sentiment, affirming Nigeria’s capacity to meet the EU’s standards.

He pointed out that many cocoa exporters are already compliant, and emphasized the importance of a harmonized national traceability and sustainability system managed by a government agency to ensure data sovereignty and ease of verification.

Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, framed the compliance as both a challenge and an opportunity.

She noted that with the EU accounting for over 60 percent of Nigeria’s cocoa exports, meeting the EUDR requirements is not just an economic necessity but an environmental and developmental imperative.

“Compliance is not optional. It is about Nigeria first—ensuring sustainable land use, supporting farmers and investors, and achieving our one trillion-dollar economy target under the Renewed Hope Agenda,” she said.

Zissimos Vergos, Chargé d’Affaires of the European Union Delegation to Nigeria, stressed the importance of repositioning Nigeria as a global competitor in the cocoa sector.

“The conclusion of this meeting is that the National Cocoa Board should lead the charge in repositioning Nigeria as a global cocoa powerhouse,” Vergos said.

Furthermore, Dr. Taiwo Osho, Sustainability Manager at Tulip Cocoa Processes Ltd., called for urgent action to define protected areas to prevent farming in restricted zones, addressing issues such as boundary confusion, low productivity, and access to farmland.

The commitment by stakeholders marks a crucial step in ensuring the long-term sustainability of Nigeria’s cocoa industry, fostering its growth in alignment with global environmental standards, and securing its place in the competitive global cocoa market.