Nigeria has validated a roadmap aimed at transforming its cashew industry from a raw commodity export sector into a globally competitive value-added processing industry.
The Minister of State for Industry, Senator John Enoh, says the roadmap provides a coordinated strategy to boost local processing, create jobs and increase Nigeria’s competitiveness in regional and global markets.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment Chris Isokpunwu at the Stakeholders’ Validation Workshop on the Nigeria Cashew Industry Roadmap in Abuja, the Minister said the initiative would reposition Nigeria from exporting raw cashew nuts to producing high-value cashew products and derivatives.
“The Roadmap offers a unified strategy for repositioning Nigeria from a major exporter of raw cashew nuts to a competitive producer of high-value cashew products and derivatives.Xg4gg
“It also provides an inclusive and market-oriented framework to support farmers’ incomes, strengthen local markets and create jobs, particularly for women and youth,” Enoh stated.
The Minister noted that cashew remains one of Nigeria’s strategic non-oil commodities with significant potential to support economic diversification and inclusive growth.
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He however, expressed concern that despite producing between 300,000 and 350,000 metric tonnes of raw cashew nuts annually, more than 85 percent of Nigeria’s output is exported without processing, limiting opportunities for value addition and industrial development.
Enoh said global demand for cashew products continues to rise, with worldwide production reaching 5.58 million metric tonnes in 2025, while the African cashew market, valued at over 850 million dollars in 2024, is projected to exceed one billion dollars by 2030.
He stressed that effective policy coordination, investment mobilisation and stronger value chains are critical to unlocking the sector’s full potential.
Strategic Non-Oil Commodity
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, also described cashew as a strategic non-oil commodity capable of boosting foreign exchange earnings, creating employment and strengthening rural economies.
Represented by the Director of Agriculture, Bukar Musa, Kyari said Nigeria earned more than 250 million dollars from cashew exports in 2025, accounting for about 10 percent of the country’s agricultural export earnings.
He projected that the commodity could generate about 500 million dollars by the end of 2026.
“Cashew is increasing in its importance as an export-oriented cash crop and a source of non-oil export earnings.
“It has become a commercial crop in Nigeria and is cultivated in 27 States of Nigeria including the Federal Capital Territory”, Kyari stated.
Also speaking, the Director-General of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council, PEBEC, Zahrah Audu, pledged support for the implementation of the Cashew Roadmap, describing it as a strategic pathway towards industrialisation, export growth and the Federal Government’s ambition of building a one-trillion-dollar economy.
She said unlocking Nigeria’s economic potential requires greater focus on value addition, investment attraction and expansion of non-oil exports.
“Achieving that vision will require more than sound macroeconomic policies.
“It will require unlocking the productive potential of sectors where Nigeria already has a natural advantage, strengthening value addition, expanding non-oil exports, attracting investment, and creating sustainable jobs”, Audu said.
PEBEC noted that although Nigeria remains among the leading producers of raw cashew nuts globally, increased domestic processing remains essential to retain more value within the economy.
The National Cashew Association of Nigeria said the validation of the roadmap was long overdue, noting that countries such as Côte d’Ivoire, Cambodia and Vietnam had advanced significantly by investing in cashew processing and value addition.
