Cameroon is stepping up measures to curb illegal cocoa exports to Nigeria after the trade cost the country an estimated CFA41.4 billion in lost revenue in 2024, according to official data.
The National Cocoa and Coffee Board (ONCC) said it has intensified coordination efforts following a high-level consultative meeting held on January 13 in Douala, chaired by ONCC Director General Michael Ndoping on the instructions of Trade Minister Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana.
The meeting brought together key public and private stakeholders, including cocoa exporters, customs officials and administrative authorities. Discussions focused on strengthening inter-agency coordination, resolving operational bottlenecks and improving the management of cocoa trade flows between Cameroon and Nigeria. The consultations form part of the rollout of new regulatory texts aligned with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), aimed at securing and formalising cross-border trade.
Authorities accuse Nigeria of siphoning off part of Cameroon’s cocoa production, particularly from the Southwest region, through fraudulent imports and informal cross-border movements. Figures from Cameroon’s National Institute of Statistics show that Nigeria absorbed cocoa worth CFA41.4 billion through informal channels in 2024 alone.
The problem has been persistent. During the 2022–2023 cocoa season, the government officially reported losses of around CFA70 billion due to fraudulent exports to Nigeria, prompting alarm within the sector over weak oversight and revenue leakage.
In response to the surge in illegal exports at the time, Trade Minister Mbarga Atangana introduced precautionary measures, including a temporary ban on certain cocoa movements, aimed at tightening control and restoring traceability within the supply chain.
With cocoa remaining one of Cameroon’s key export commodities, authorities say the renewed controls are intended to protect export revenues, strengthen sector governance and ensure that cross-border trade complies with national regulations and AfCFTA standards.
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