The Federal Government of Nigeria has taken a significant step to attract European investors by unveiling its one-million-hectare tree crops expansion programme in Brussels. This initiative was presented at the Nigeria/West Africa Cocoa Origins – EU Industry Match-Making Forum, which took place on the sidelines of the Nigeria–Belgium-Luxembourg Business Forum on October 29, 2026. The programme aims to increase Nigeria's cocoa production while ensuring that the expansion is deforestation-free and fully traceable.
The presentation was made by the Agribusiness and Productivity Enhancement Project Management Office (AgPE PMO) in the Office of the Vice President and the EU–Nigeria Agribusiness Platform (EUNAP). The forum was organised by EUNAP, managed by Agribusiness Register Limited under an EU Global Gateway grant, with the support of the European Cocoa Association (ECA). The ECA's members account for about 95 per cent of Europe's cocoa grinding capacity, making this a crucial platform for Nigeria to showcase its plans.
The keynote address at the forum was delivered by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Agribusiness in the Office of the Vice President. This was the first presentation of the programme to a European audience, with cocoa expected to take a leading share. The programme comes at a time when European industry is seeking new origins, and it directly addresses the questions European buyers are asking about new cultivation, tracing, and expansion without forest loss.
Nigeria currently has over 350,000 cocoa-farming families cultivating over 1.4 million hectares. The new programme aims to grow this base on a deforestation-free, fully traceable footing and invites European industry to participate through long-term offtake, co-investment in processing, and region-to-region partnership. This initiative is expected to not only boost cocoa production but also ensure that Nigeria's cocoa industry is sustainable and responsible.
To ensure coordinated participation, the AgPE PMO is engaging relevant federal ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) and cocoa-producing states ahead of the forum. This includes the region-to-region track, which aims to foster partnerships between Nigerian and European regions. The collaboration will cover policy engagement, mobilisation of grant and development resources, and commercialisation of cocoa and other value chains.
According to Dr. Kingsley Uzoma, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Agribusiness, “Nigeria is presenting European industry with a plan, not a promise. The expansion of our tree crops will be planned, mapped and traced from the first seedling, so that every new hectare strengthens Nigeria’s standing as a responsible origin.” This statement underscores Nigeria's commitment to responsible and sustainable cocoa production.
The partnership between Nigeria and European investors is expected to have a significant impact on the country's cocoa industry. With the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) coming into effect on December 30, 2026, Nigeria's deforestation-free and fully traceable practices will be crucial in ensuring that its cocoa products meet European standards. The presence of high-level government officials at the forum demonstrates Nigeria's commitment to this initiative and its potential to transform the country's cocoa industry.
Key points
- Nigeria unveils a one-million-hectare tree crops expansion programme to attract European investors and boost cocoa production sustainably.
