Oyo and Abia Govts to establish cocoa processing plants

The Oyo and Abia State governments are set to establish Cocoa processing plants to boost Cocoa production in the country.

In an interview with Radio Nigeria in Akure, Ondo State Capital, the Deputy Governor of Abia State, Comrade Chris Akomas said the establishment of the processing centre would be done in collaboration with the private sector.

Comrade Akomas stated that the state government had also constituted a task force to ensure that Cocoa production in the state was of high quality.

In his remark, the Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Alhaji Taofeek Arapaja said the effort of the Oyo State government as a member of National Cocoa Development Committee, NCDC, was to bring the commodity back to its former glory.    

Alhaji Arapaja called on investors in Nigeria to show more commitments towards establishing Cocoa processing centres as is a foreign exchange earns for the nation.

The Deputy Governor said an enabling environment had been worked out for farmers and investors to realise their objectives.
Correspondent reports that about five Cocoa processing countries are presently in Nigeria.