ABUJA, Nigeria — The Federal Government has unveiled a comprehensive roadmap aimed at transforming Nigeria’s cashew industry into a globally competitive, value-added sector to drive job creation and boost non-oil export earnings.
The initiative was disclosed in a statement by Obilor-Duru Augustina Okechi, Head, Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment.
At a stakeholders’ validation workshop in Abuja, the Minister of State for Industry, Senator John Owan Enoh, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr Chris Osa Isokpunwu, said the roadmap provides a strategic framework to reverse the persistent export of raw cashew and unlock greater economic value through local processing.
“Over 85 per cent of Nigeria’s cashew production is exported in raw form, resulting in significant value loss to the economy,” he said.
Nigeria currently produces between 300,000 and 350,000 metric tonnes of cashew annually, but limited processing capacity has constrained the sector’s full potential.
The minister explained that the roadmap aligns with the Federal Government’s industrialisation agenda and addresses critical constraints, including low productivity, ageing plantations, infrastructure deficits, limited access to finance and weak quality standards.
He further announced plans to establish a Nigerian Cashew Project Office to coordinate implementation in partnership with key stakeholders such as the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, the National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN) and development partners.
Also speaking, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, represented by Mr Bukar Musa, described the roadmap as a significant milestone toward strengthening production, enhancing value addition and improving export competitiveness.
Stakeholders at the workshop emphasised the need for consistent, investor-friendly policies and an enabling business environment to revitalise local processing and attract investment into the sector.
Director-General of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), Princess Zahrah Mustapha Audu, said the roadmap would support Nigeria’s economic diversification objectives and contribute to non-oil export growth.
She added that ongoing reforms, including the Business Facilitation Act, are designed to improve the ease of doing business and encourage private sector participation.
Industry stakeholders also advocated increased investment in climate-smart agriculture, improved market structures, enhanced access to finance and stronger quality standards across the cashew value chain.
They expressed confidence that effective implementation of the roadmap would position the cashew sector as a key driver of industrialisation, rural development and sustainable economic growth.
