By Admin
The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima says the administration of President Bola Tinubu is fully committed to reviving the cocoa industry and the whole agricultural value chain in Nigeria.
According to him, the administration is putting everything in place to ensure that Nigeria moves from mere producer of cocoa to a processor of cocoa by promoting sustainable cocoa farming and forest preservation.
Senator Shettima who stated this during an audience with a delegation from the World Cocoa Foundation (WCF) led by its President, Mr. Chris Vincent, at the Presidential Villa, noted that it is in a bid to return to the drawing board in respect of revamping the nation’s cocoa industry that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) recently approved the establishment of a National Cocoa Management Board (NCMB).
“We used to be one of the world’s leading cocoa producers, but because of the advent of oil, we have been relegated to the background now. But we can reclaim that lost glory.” he said
Senator Shettima pointed out that the price of cocoa has skyrocketed globally, assuring that “with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Nigeria is poised to go “back to the drawing board.
In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Communications, Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, the Vice President stressed the need for Nigeria to start processing cocoa products, just as he told the WCF delegation that the nation has the manpower, with capable young Nigerians who are willing to take advantage of the job opportunities in the agricultural sector.
“We don’t want to be producers of cocoa; we want to be processors of cocoa because a tonne of cocoa will fetch you $9,000 now, but processed cocoa will get you $30,000. If you turn them into chocolate bars, that might fetch you $50,000.
“So, we have the manpower, the average age of the nation is 17. We have very virile young men who are willing to work if they have the opportunity. So, I’m speaking from the heart; we are willing to partner with your organisation.” he added
Senator Shettima also disclosed that he was already working on building a cocoa farm to lead by example, saying the passion is not driven by profit making, but by the desire to contribute to the social welfare of the country.
The Vice President pledged Nigeria’s readiness to work with WCF, assuring that he would personally engage the governor of Taraba State to secure the 10,000 hectares in Kurmi local government area of the state for the WCF and other partners to expand their investments in the nation’s cocoa industry.
Earlier, the Vice President of the WCF, Mr Vincent, declared the Foundation’s readiness to work with the Nigerian government to revitalise the cocoa sector in Nigeria in line with the European Union’s sustainable regulations.
Noting that there was a dire need of more suppliers of cocoa due to the shortage in supply of cocoa globally, he explained that prices of the crop had risen to four times over the last three years.
