President Muhammadu Buhari has signed the Instrument of Accession to the International Cocoa Agreement, 2010.
According to a statement by his spokesperson, Garba Shehu, this was sequel to approval of the Federal Executive Council for Nigeria to accede to the Agreement.
He said the president signed the document on Monday at the State House, Abuja.
“Following the execution of the instrument of accession, Nigeria undertakes ‘faithfully to abide by all the stipulations therein contained’ in the Agreement.
“Among other benefits, the Agreement is expected to strengthen cooperation between exporting and importing member countries; improve their cocoa economies through active and better focused project development and strategies for capacity-building.
“The 2010 Agreement is also expected to build on the successes of the 2001 Agreement by ‘implementing measures leading to an increase in the income of cocoa farmers and by supporting cocoa producers in improving the functioning of their cocoa economies.’
“It will also ‘deliver cocoa of better quality, take effective account of food-safety issues and help establish social, economic and environmental sustainability, so that farmers are rewarded for producing cocoa that meets ethical and environmental considerations,” Mr Shehu stated.
