.says farmers may cut down trees

.suspends BoT chair, secretary

By Gabriel Ewepu

ABUJA – THE National Cashew Association of Nigeria, NCAN, Monday, warned that moves to ban export of raw cashew will throw over 5 million Nigerians out of jobs.

Speaking after an Extraordinary General Meeting, EGM, held in Abuja, the President, NCAN, Dr Joseph Ajanaku, addressing newsmen, described the move as premature and counterproductive at the detriment of smallholder farmers and the entire economy.

According to Ajanaku, there is international conspiracy by some organisations who are deceiving policymakers to go ahead to impose ban on export of the raw cashew nuts, which cashew farmers in other African countries are suffering, citing cashew farmers in Benin Republic who smuggle their cashew to other countries to sell despite the ban by their government, and the processors having nothing to show.

He highlighted the rigours cashew farmers go through to produce cashew amid high cost of production and also the current insecurity challenges they are facing as other farmers.

He said NCAN vehemently opposes the proposed ban of raw cashew nuts export based on the poor infrastructure, low processing capacity, poor technology, and other economic challenges.

He said: “We want to add value to what we are producing, but we are saying that let it be done in a sustainable way. Let the Nigerian government know that without giving our processors incentives, they can never make profit.

“The cost of production is very high. There is high interest rate. The cost of energy is very high. Cashew farmers will never break even.

“The best way to go is to ensure that farmers are not short-changed, processors can be supported through incentives and ‘Special Processing Agro Loan’, which will be at three per cent interest rate.”

Meanwhile, during the Extraordinary General Meeting, EGM, the association announced the suspension of the Chairman of its Board of Trustees, BoT, Irezondu Sunny Stevenson, and Secretary, Chief Abraham Adesida respectively.

They were suspended over alleged dabbling into judicial process of matter by the court without the knowledge of the President of NCAN, and added that they cannot take decision without the knowledge of the association.

Meanwhile, a five-man disciplinary committee led by its chairman, Hon. Ichapi Muhammed Agala, was constituted to investigate from their action, and will report back after 90 days for further disciplinary actions if they are found culpable.

In the interim, Godwin Ogbodo, and Stephen Mallaan were both appointed Interim Chairman, BoT (Acting) and Interim Secretary respectively pending outcome of the committee’s report.

Dr. Ojo Joseph Ajanaku, the subsisting President of NCAN, is designated as the Enforcement Authority responsible for implementation of all resolutions, as the stakeholders reaffirmed commitment to constitutional governance, due process, and institutional stability.

“The meeting resolved that stakeholders shall formally write to the Honourable Minister, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI), requesting ministerial neutrality pending judicial determination of the leadership dispute within NCAN.

“The communiqué and accompanying correspondence shall be copied to: Relevant Security Agencies of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC); and Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.

“Legal counsel is mandated to continue proceedings to set aside or vacate the Consent Judgment of 2019, where it is being misapplied or relied upon contrary to current governance realities.

“The meeting resolved the immediate suspension of: Mr. Irezondu Sunny Stevenson (Chairman, BOT); and Chief Abraham Adesida (Secretary, BOT).

“Their conduct is referred to the Disciplinary Committee for investigation.”

The EGM maintained that the AGM/EGM is the supreme authority of NCAN, and all organs including the BOT are subordinate to its resolutions.