Abubakar Siddiq Ibn Usman
Vice President Kashim Shettima has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to transforming Nigeria’s agricultural sector particularly the cocoa industry, from a raw commodity supplier to a major processor on the global stage.
Speaking on Monday during a meeting with a delegation from the World Cocoa Foundation (WCF), led by its President Chris Vincent, Shettima said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration is taking strategic steps to rebuild the cocoa value chain.
“We used to be one of the world’s leading cocoa producers,” the Vice President said. “But because of the advent of oil, we were relegated. We can reclaim that lost glory. The President is fully committed to revitalising not only the cocoa industry but all agricultural value chains.”
He disclosed that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) recently approved the establishment of a National Cocoa Management Board (NCMB) to oversee the revival of the sector.
According to Shettima, the time has come for Nigeria to move beyond producing cocoa beans to processing value-added products such as cocoa butter and chocolate bars, which significantly increase market value.
“A tonne of cocoa fetches $9,000, but processed cocoa gets you $30,000—and chocolate bars can reach $50,000,” he explained. “We have the manpower. The average age in Nigeria is 17. We have energetic young people ready to work.”
In a show of personal commitment, the Vice President revealed that he is already developing a cocoa farm, not for profit, but to contribute to job creation and lead by example.
The WCF President, Chris Vincent, acknowledged the urgency of partnering with Nigeria, especially amid a global cocoa supply shortage that has driven prices to record highs.
“We are looking for new, sustainable cocoa sources,” Vincent said. “Nigeria has clear ambitions, and the opportunity is now. The next two to three years offer huge growth potential.”
Shettima also promised to engage the Taraba State Governor to facilitate 10,000 hectares of land in Kurmi Local Government Area for the WCF and other partners to expand cocoa cultivation.
Read also:NIPSS defends integrity as SEC 47 participant petitions Tinubu
$25 Billion Undersea Gas Pipeline Project Underway
Meanwhile, Nigeria is pushing forward with a massive $25 billion Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline project, aimed at transporting natural gas along the West African coast to Europe.
During a separate meeting with executives of Vitol Group, the world’s largest independent energy trader, Vice President Shettima highlighted Nigeria’s renewed attractiveness to international investors under President Tinubu’s reforms.
“In the past 25 years, we haven’t had a leader with the courage to take such far-reaching economic decisions—removal of fuel subsidy, exchange rate unification, and tax reforms,” he said.
Shettima described Nigeria’s gas sector as a zone of “stability and transparency,” with the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) largely shielded from government interference.
“Our goal is to leverage our gas potential—we have the eighth-largest reserves in the world. This project is capital-intensive, but what we need more than money is your technical expertise.”
He urged Vitol to use its global influence and networks to mobilize resources for the pipeline and support Nigeria’s energy transition agenda.
Responding, Vitol’s Chief Financial Officer, Jeffrey Dellapina, reiterated the company’s long-term commitment to Nigeria.
“This country has always been important to us. We’ve supported major projects, including Project Gazelle, where we contributed $300 million during the COVID-19 period,” Dellapina noted.
Vitol Group’s Nigeria Country Manager, Thomas de Montulé, and Head of Public Affairs, Murtala Baloni, also attended the meeting.
admin
Rabiu M. Hamza
Agency News
