Calabar, Wednesday, 17 December 2025 – The Cross River State Government, today, formally launched its new Deforestation-Free Policy on Cocoa and Oil Palm, developed with technical and financial support from the UK Government-funded Propcom+ programme. The policy was presented to His Excellency, the Governor of Cross River State, Sen. Prince Bassey Otu, at his office in Calabar, underscoring Nigeria’s commitment to sustainable development and environmental stewardship.
The Deforestation-Free Policy establishes a clear framework to protect forests and biodiversity by ensuring that the expansion of cocoa and oil palm production does not lead to deforestation. It aims to promote sustainable commodity sourcing that meets international standards, thereby strengthening Nigeria’s position in global markets. This initiative supports farmers and communities with practices that enhance yields while safeguarding natural ecosystems. Additionally, it aligns state-level action with national and international climate goals, contributing to Nigeria’s commitments under the Paris Agreement.
This initiative reflects the shared priorities of the UK Government and Nigeria in tackling deforestation and promoting sustainable trade. By embedding sustainability into cocoa and oil palm production, the policy will:
- Strengthen Nigeria’s access to global supply chains, increasingly demanding deforestation-free commodities.
- Contribute to the UK’s broader climate and development objectives, including reducing carbon emissions and supporting resilient livelihoods.
- Demonstrate how international cooperation can deliver practical solutions to environmental challenges while fostering inclusive economic growth.
Speaking at the launch, the Governor of Cross River State, Sen. Prince Bassey Otu, who was represented by his deputy, Rt Hon. Peter Odey, emphasised the importance of safeguarding the state’s rich forests while ensuring farmers benefit from sustainable practices. He stated,
“We are very proud of the State’s biodiversity endowment, so we want to place Cross River State back on the world’s map when it comes to tourism and eco-tourism and protecting our rich forest reserves is central to this.
Thus, we are very keen on revitalising our forestry sector so that we can contribute to reducing the impact of climate change, open up our tourism potentials as a State and also empower communities to improve their lives.”
Propcom+ Strategy Director, Dr Olumide Ojo (left) with the Deputy Governor of Cross River, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey (right)
Speaking also at the formal presentation, Propcom+’s Country Representative and Political Director, Dr Adiya Ode, who was represented by the Strategy Director, Dr Olumide Ojo, noted that the policy is a model of collaboration that advances both environmental protection and economic opportunity for the State. She highlighted the UK Government’s commitment to working with the Government of Nigeria, through the Propcom+ programme, to increase the depth of investment in the agricultural sector, with a focus on building resilience and adapting to the effects of climate change.
“Cross River State has long been recognised as one of the world’s top biodiversity hotspots. “We are extremely delighted to be supporting the Cross River State Government to sign up to global policies on sustainable land use and deforestation-free commodities, thus harnessing this huge potential in a way that benefits smallholder farmers and the larger ecosystem.
We are linking forest protection to economic incentives for farmers, thus by working together, intensive reforestation and land restoration efforts can happen, with climate-smart agricultural practices generating new and alternative livelihoods for farmers”, Dr Ojo stated.
Propcom+ is an eight-year (2023–2030) UK Government-funded programme that supports climate-resilient and sustainable agriculture and forestry that benefits people, climate, and nature. The programme aims to support more than 4 million people in Nigeria, 50% of whom will be women, to adopt and scale sustainable agricultural practices that increase productivity and climate resilience, while reducing emissions and protecting natural ecosystems. By collaborating with governments, businesses, and communities, Propcom+ contributes to reducing deforestation, enhancing the livelihoods of local communities, and strengthening Nigeria’s role in sustainable global trade.
For more information about the Propcom+ programme in Nigeria, contact Adiya Ode at adiya.ode@thepalladiumgroup.com.
