EU, Stakeholders Meet on Cocoa, Others Compliance with Deforestation Regulation

By: Michael Mike

Stakeholders have received the report of an EU-funded study analysing the preparedness of cocoa and other value chains to comply with the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).

The EUDR, introduced on 29 June 2023, aims to limit the EU market’s impact on global deforestation, forest degradation, and biodiversity loss, promote deforestation-free supply chains, reduce the EU’s contribution to greenhouse gas emissions, and protect human rights and the rights of indigenous peoples.

Products covered under the EUDR include cocoa as well as palm oil, cattle, soy, coffee, timber, rubber, and their derivatives (beef, furniture, and chocolate are also listed). As the EU attracts 67 percent of cocoa exports from Nigeria, preparedness in this sector is particularly critical.

Speaking at the event in Abuja, Massimo De Luca, Head of Cooperation, EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, stated that the EU aims to develop a strategy that both protects the environment and mitigates the effects of climate change.

He said: “In cocoa farming, a lot of virgin land is cleared, and farmers utilise such forested lands to farm. This is why the EUDR is important to discourage deforestation, but also why the EU is here to support the local farmers with improved agro-ecological techniques and improvements in productivity.”

The workshop also presented the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D), a new legislative instruments applying to all value chains and requiring that, while conducting economic activities, companies should minimise negative environmental and social impacts.
Explaining the significance of the CS3D, Massimo De Luca added, “From water, to child labour, companies need to assess risks associated with their activities and measures to remedy, including compliance with national and international standards.”

Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, represented by the Deputy Director, Cocoa/Member, National Cocoa Management Committee, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Ajayi Olutobaba, welcomed the EU’s partnership with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and the introduction of the EUDR.

He said: “The EU’s partnership with the Ministry on the critical issue of the EUDR, and the need for due diligence assessments to be conducted in relevant value chains, is a welcome development.”

He added that: “Given the importance of the EUDR and the need to ensure due diligence assessments in Nigeria’s cocoa sector to guarantee deforestation-free supply chains for cocoa and other agricultural products, I recently inaugurated the National Taskforce on EUDR, comprising all relevant stakeholders in the affected value chains.”

He said: “The National Taskforce, chaired by me, aims to develop a unified national approach to meet the EU’s deadlines. We have already begun operations and hope to achieve our objectives as soon as possible.”

In his presentation, the key expert commissioned by the European Commission
Javier Sánchez, noted that while the EUDR presents short-term challenges for producing countries, it offers significant opportunities in the medium term.

“The EUDR should not be seen as a disadvantage for Nigeria. This is an opportunity to enhance environmental sustainability, create sustainable value chains, and strengthen compliance with national regulations across the value chain,” he said.

Sánchez emphasised that compliance with the EUDR strengthens the role of small producers in international value chains by promoting transparency, allowing consumers to know the origins of cocoa, coffee, and other products.

“The private sector, particularly EU-based importers, is the key player responsible for EUDR implementation. They will face significant sanctions for non-compliance. Due to the structure of the value chain, they will then also look to the upstream actors, especially cooperatives and middlemen, who have information about the origin of the products, to ensure EUDR is complied with.”

“While the government cannot replace the private sector’s role, it can facilitate compliance by developing tools and ensuring awareness of the regulations that private sector actors must follow,” he added.

EU, Stakeholders Meet on Cocoa, Others Compliance with Deforestation Regulation

Presidency Dismisses Claims On Recent Cabinet Reshuffle

By: Our Reporter

Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Bayo Onanuga, has clarified reasons the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle was not dismissed in the recent cabinet reshuffle.

Speaking during an interview on a national TV station, Mr Onanuga said that allegations against the Minister were thoroughly investigated by the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) and found to be baseless.

According to Mr Onanuga, the NSA’s investigation concluded that the allegations against Matawalle were “mere fabrications”.

He said, “As far as I know, most of those things are just mere allegations.

“In one of them, I got something like that and sent it to the NSA and asked: ‘Have you heard about this?’ The NSA said: ‘No. We have probed a lot of those things; they are not true.’” Mr Onanuga added.

The Presidential aide also provided insights into the rationale behind the reshuffle, explaining that public perception played a crucial role.

“People are just bringing out all kinds of fake things and allegations. That is why the man (Matawalle) is still in the cabinet. The president, I’m sure, has heard many stories about him.

For him to be there shows that, as I have said, some of those things have been probed. They are not true.”

He applauded Hadiza Bala Usman, Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination, for implementing a system that allowed Nigerians to assess the ministers’ performances.

“It wasn’t done arbitrarily Hadiza Bala Usman brought in technology, asking Nigerians to rate the ministers.

So, the removal of these ministers was based on empirical facts, shaped by the public’s perception. The scorecards were filled out by the people, and the President acted on those results.”

He added that the reshuffle was not solely about meeting the President’s expectations but also addressing the concerns of the public.

“A few weeks ago, during a cabinet meeting, the President urged the ministers to inform Nigerians of their accomplishments, because, according to him, there was a public perception that the government wasn’t performing,” he said.

Mr Onanuga also hinted at more efforts of the President to reduce the cost of governance.

“The President will soon announce measures to reduce government expenditure, starting with the ministers.

I don’t want to pre-empt the details, but the cuts will be significant to demonstrate the government’s seriousness in reducing the cost of governance.”

The Special Adviser to the President added that President Tinubu is fully aware of specific requirements to address the country’s challenges.

“The government is aware of what’s required to address the country’s challenges. It’s not about the size of the government, but about having many competent hands to drive its agenda.”

It would be recalled that the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, who is also a former governor of Zamfara State, has faced accusations of having links to bandit groups.

Presidency Dismisses Claims On Recent Cabinet Reshuffle

CEO Multi Trade Link Commends Emir Of Tikau

By: Yahaya Wakili

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of A.A. Abubakar Multi Trade Links and General Concept Ltd, Alhaji Abdullahi Abubakar, has expressed his appreciation to the Emir of Tikau, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Abubakar Muhammadu Ibn Grema, for the commissioning of his newly constructed filling station in Potiskum.

Alhaji Abdullahi Abubakar, who is also the Maki Dubu of the Tikau emirate council, said, His Royal Highness, the Emir of Tikau, has done everything to him in his life.

The Maki Dubu started this to newsmen shortly after commissioning of the project by his royal highness, the emir of Tikau, Alhaji Abubakar Muhammadu Ibn Grema.

“May Almighty Allah (SWT) give him the will and determination to save his people with humility, dedication, and compassion. I am grateful to His Royal Highness the Emir of Tikau for coming and commissioning this gigantic project.

He said this new filling station is a factory, as you know, for any business venture, and it will provide job opportunities as well as reduce the joblessness among our youths.

“As the price of the fuel product is high and hardship in the country, it is a big challenge to us and those who are in this business, and here what I will say, this country is ours; therefore, let us pray to Almighty Allah to bring us the solutions. Maki Dubu said.

He appealed to the federal government to look into the hardship, which he said was the removal of fuel subsidies, NEPA, and taxes, among others, that escalated the cost of living among the citizens of Nigeria. 

Alhaji Abdullahi Abubakar also expressed immense gratitude to the people who abandoned their home work and business and trooped here to witness this occasion. May Almighty Allah (SWT) reward them abandonedly.

CEO Multi Trade Link Commends Emir Of Tikau