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EU, Stakeholders Meet on Cocoa, Others Compliance with Deforestation Regulation
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
Police arrest suspected bandits, informant and drug supplier in Sokoto
By: Zagazola Makama
The Sokoto State Police Command has arrested three suspected bandits, an informant, and a suspected drug supplier during a coordinated raid on a criminal hideout in Kware Local Government Area of the state.
Sources said the operation, carried out by operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit on Oct. 4, followed credible intelligence on the activities of a five-man syndicate notorious for terrorising communities in Wamako and Kware areas.
The police team stormed the suspects’ hideout in Sabon Birni, Kware LGA, leading to the arrest of Bubale Mohammed and two others, alongside an informant and a suspected drug baron who allegedly supplied the gang with hard drugs.
Items recovered during the operation include dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp and various illicit drugs.
According to the sources, video footage retrieved from the suspects’ phones showed them dressed in military uniforms and displaying rifles inside their camp.
Sources said efforts are ongoing to track and arrest other fleeing members of the syndicate. The case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation.
Police arrest suspected bandits, informant and drug supplier in Sokoto
Police arrest suspected armed robber, recover firearms and POS machines in Abuja
By: Zagazola Makama
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested a suspected armed robber and recovered a locally-made pistol and several stolen items in Gwagwalada Area Council.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that the arrest followed a complaint lodged by one Kabiru Ahmed of Kasuwan Dare, Gwagwalada, who reported that two men swapped his Moniepoint POS machine on Oct. 1, 2025, at about 2:55 p.m.
Detectives from the Gwagwalada Division swiftly acted on the report and apprehended one Abdul Abdullahi of Kano State, who confessed to being part of a syndicate notorious for POS swapping and robbery within the area.
The suspect named his accomplices as Yusuf Abdul, Mustapha Abba, Faruk, and Abu Chibola, and later led police operatives to their hideout in Angwan Dodo, Gwagwalada.
However, the other suspects escaped through the ceiling and roof of the building towards a nearby river upon sighting the operatives. One female suspect, Rahama Michael was arrested at the scene.
Items recovered include one fabricated locally-made pistol, six POS machines, seven ATM cards, 37 SIM cards, six wristwatches, and one axe.
The State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) has commenced a full investigation, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing members of the syndicate.
Police arrest suspected armed robber, recover firearms and POS machines in Abuja
Two commuters lost their lives as tipper rams into Keke napep injuring others in Maiduguri
By: Bodunrin Kayode
Two commuters have lost their lives while several others were injured when a tipper lost control of its break and rammed into their Keke napep in Maiduguri on Friday.
The fatal crash which occurred around the T junction overlooking the official quarters of the Commissioner of Police in Maiduguri has brought to the fore once again the excesses of tipper drivers in the Borno State Capital.
A Statement by the sector commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Usman Muhammad described the probable cause of the crash as break failure.
In his statement he said that “A road traffic crash occurred at Police Commissioner Junction in Maiduguri on Friday, 3rd October at about 1854 hrs, resulting into two fatalities and eight injuries.
“The Crash involved a Howo truck, a Toyota Corolla and two other Tricycles at the Junction.
“The Cause of the Road crash was as a result of mechanical fault (Brake failure) of the Tipper Truck.
“Eight people (all Male adults) were involved in the crash. Two dead (all male adults) and 6 injured (all Male adults)”
The FRSC Sector Commander, Usman Muhammad said he had promptly dispatched emergency services to the scene to rescue the victims and provide medical attention to those who were wounded.
The FRSC authorities further noted that they have launched an investigation into the crash to determine the circumstances surrounding what happened that fateful day.
Meanwhile, the Sector Commander, urged motorists to exercise caution on the roads and adhere to traffic regulations to prevent such incidents.
The Command also emphasizes the importance of regular vehicle maintenance to ensure roadworthiness as a proactive measure to avoid such crashes.
Commander Usman
Muhammad who spoke with this reporter on phone extended his condolences to the families of the deceased and wished the injured a speedy recovery even as all the victims were conveyed to the Specialist Hospital Maiduguri for medical attention.
Bodies of those who lost their lives have since been deposited at the Mortuary of the specialist hospital, Maiduguri.
Two commuters lost their lives as tipper rams into Keke napep injuring others in Maiduguri
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Police arrest suspected bandits, informant and drug supplier in Sokoto
Police arrest suspected armed robber, recover firearms and POS machines in Abuja
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