Governor Ahmed Ododo of Kogi, on Friday, said that the state is targeting N86.8 billion in four months from the production of cashew alone.

The governor made the disclosure at the inauguration of the 2026 cashew season and unveiling of the Kogi Cashew Procurement and Trade Policy, 2025, held at the Government House, Lokoja.

Mr Ododo revealed that from findings on the enormous values therein in cashew and the demand thereof both locally and internationally, the state could generate about  N86. 6 billion between the months of January and April alone if properly harnessed.

According to him, the true economic value does not lie in production alone but in processing, packaging, branding, and structured trade.

“This is why our administration is firmly committed to the establishment of cashew processing facilities within Kogi.

“Processing is where value is created, jobs are multiplied, and prosperity is retained and shared.

“By supporting investments in processing plants and encouraging the production of value-added products such as kernels, packaged nuts, and industrial by-products, we will reduce post-harvest losses, increase farmer earnings, and ensure that more wealth remains within our local economy.”

The governor also said that the initiative aligned seamlessly with the broader economic vision of diversification, youth empowerment, women inclusion, and shared prosperity.

“We see opportunities for our young people and women across every segment of the cashew value chain, from farming to processing, packaging, logistics, marketing, and export.

“As we officially flag off the 2026 cashew season today, we are planting five million cashew trees in anticipation of bumper harvest.

“We are planting hope. We are planting prosperity. We are planting resilience. And we are planting the future of a stronger, more productive Kogi.

“The time to make Kogi resources work for Kogi people is now, and we must join hands as brothers and sisters to make this vision a lasting reality,” he said.

Earlier in his welcome address, the director general of Kogi State Commodity Exchange, Export Promotion and Market Development Agency (KOSCEPA), Victor Omofaiye, described the inauguration as a “turning point in the history of Kogi.

Mr Omofaiye said that the initiative was the Ododo’s administration’s deliberate drive to ensure that the state takes its rightful place among the leading cashew producing states in Nigeria.

He said that Nigeria currently ranked  as the fourth largest cashew nut producer in the world, with an annual production of about 450,000 metric tonnes and export value exceeding 700 million dollars, with “Kogi as a major driver of this performance.” 

(NAN)