Cocoa stakeholders across Nigeria have threatened to stage peaceful protests following the mysterious disappearance of the Executive Cocoa Board Bill from the National Assembly’s legislative agenda.
The Cocoa Roundtable Initiative (CORI), an umbrella body representing local and global cocoa interests, said the bill, which was transmitted to the House of Representatives on November 10, 2025, and the Senate on November 13, has yet to receive legislative attention.
In a statement signed by Adeola Adegoke, Director-General of CORI, the delay, coupled with the unexplained disappearance of the bill, threatens the sustainability of Nigeria’s cocoa industry.
Adegoke also serves as the National President of the Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria (CFAN) and Global President of the Cocoa Farmers Alliance Association of Africa (COFAAA).
“The Executive Cocoa Board Bill is a critical framework for revitalising Nigeria’s cocoa sector and securing the livelihoods of thousands of farming families,” the statement read.
“Its continued disappearance is unacceptable and leaves stakeholders in a state of uncertainty.”
CORI noted that the bill is essential for establishing regulatory mechanisms, promoting sustainable cocoa production, and positioning Nigeria to reclaim its status as a leading global cocoa producer.
Adegoke confirmed that the planned demonstrations would be peaceful and confined to cocoa-producing communities nationwide, adding that the organisation remains committed to dialogue with the federal government, governors of cocoa-producing states, and the National Assembly.
He appealed to the Ministers of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, and Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, to intervene, urging President Bola Tinubu to ensure the bill reappears on the legislative agenda.
The planned protest comes after President Tinubu had earlier requested the Senate to step down the Cocoa Management Board Establishment Bill 2025 for further consultations.
CORI condemned the disappearance of the bill as unpatriotic, describing it as an attempt to derail the government’s Renewed Hope Agenda for the cocoa industry.
The group, however, did not specify the date for the protest.
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