National Cashew Association Vows to Resist Manipulation of Industry Roadmap
The National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN) has issued a firm declaration to oppose any attempts to manipulate the country's cashew roadmap, emphasizing its commitment to safeguarding the interests of farmers and the integrity of the sector. This stance was articulated in a communiqué released at the conclusion of its 2026 Annual General Meeting (AGM), which was held alongside the 4th Nigeria Cashew Day. The event, themed "Unlocking the Full Potential of Nigeria's Cashew Industry through Investment, Innovation and Global Trade," was co-organized by NCAN and the African Cashew Alliance (ACA).
Expulsion of Member and Investigation into Unlawful Activities
In a significant move, the AGM resolved to expel Mr. Ademola Adesokan, a member of the association, over allegations of impersonation and other criminal activities. The communiqué, jointly signed by National President Dr. Ojo Joseph Ajanaku, National Secretary Unekwuojo Augustine Edime, Chairman of the NCAN Board of Trustees Sunday Uzoechi, and Secretary of the NCAN BOT Abraham Adesina, detailed that Adesokan had undermined the association's integrity by unlawfully convening a purported Interim Executive Council and an unauthorized AGM in Lagos on January 20, 2026.
The AGM noted that Adesokan, who registered in June 2025, attempted to assume leadership roles and convened electoral processes within just three months, in direct violation of the NCAN Constitution. According to the constitution, members must have paid yearly membership dues for at least two consecutive years prior to an election and have actively participated in NCAN activities to be eligible for executive office. The AGM further called for a full investigation into the culpability of Mr. Babatola Faseru and others involved in Adesokan's unlawful activities, with recommendations for possible disciplinary action at the next AGM.
Commitment to Roadmap Integrity and Stakeholder Engagement
The AGM resolved to convene a stakeholders meeting across the cashew value chain to review the roadmap before its validation. It warned that any clandestine review or collusion between individuals or organizations to influence the roadmap would be regarded as a deliberate attempt to undermine farmer interests and compromise the integrity of Nigeria's cashew sector. Such acts, the association stated, would be resisted through all available legal and regulatory measures.
This resolution comes in response to recent statements by Adesokan claiming he was the elected National President of the association, highlighting the need for transparency and adherence to constitutional processes.
Endorsement of Key Initiatives and Industry Growth
The AGM also acknowledged a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with VINACAS and resolved to ensure the timely development and implementation of the agreed framework. Additionally, it endorsed a 500 million cashew seedling production and distribution project for 2026, led by the Office of the Vice President, Kashim Shettima. This initiative builds on the 120,000 seedlings distributed by NCAN in 2025, with the AGM mandating the National President to liaise with the Vice President's Office to advance cashew production in Nigeria.
At the summit, stakeholders resolved to sustain the growth of Nigeria's cashew industry by anchoring it on a balanced, market-driven framework that expands production, safeguards farmer incomes, and accelerates domestic value addition. Key resolutions included:
- Urgently scaling domestic processing capacity through public-private partnerships, processing and aggregation clusters, improved access to affordable finance, reliable energy, and efficient trade and logistics infrastructure.
- Encouraging cashew processors to adopt backward integration models, such as out-grower schemes and structured commodity partnerships, to secure raw material supply while improving farmer productivity and income stability.
- Utilizing incentive-based policies, including tax reliefs, tariff concessions, export financing frameworks, blended finance instruments, and targeted intervention funds, as primary instruments for stimulating investment rather than restrictive trade measures.
- Strengthening quality assurance, certification, traceability, and compliance with international standards to enhance Nigeria's competitiveness and credibility in global markets.
- Calling on domestic and international investors to leverage opportunities across the cashew value chain, including processing, storage, logistics, product diversification, by-product utilization, and AfCFTA-enabled regional trade.
These comprehensive measures aim to position Nigeria's cashew industry for sustainable growth and global market leadership, reinforcing NCAN's role in driving innovation and investment in the agricultural sector.
