Chinedum Elekwachi
The Presidency has expressed full support for recently constituted Interim National Committee of the National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN).
It described the move as timely and necessary to restore order to the association following years of constitutional violations and leadership crises.
Speaking in Abuja on behalf of the Presidency, Mr. Abiodun Yinusa, Special Assistant to the President on Agriculture, noted that the arrest of the former NCAN President, Mr. Ojo Ajanaku, by Security Services marked beginning of accountability for actions that undermined both the association and the nation’s agricultural policies.
“NCAN is too important to Nigeria’s non-oil export economy to be left in crisis. Former leadership failed to respect a 2019 court judgment and refused to conduct elections for nearly three years.
“His arrest for economic sabotage and disobedience of court orders sends a strong message that impunity has no place in our agricultural institutions.”
The Presidency commended the unanimous appointment of Mr. Ademola Adesokan, an Executive Member of NCAN, as Interim National President.
He described him as a credible leader with a proven track record in agribusiness.
Confidence in committee
“We believe the Interim Committee, under Mr. Adesokan, will align fully with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“The agenda prioritizes food security, value addition, and agricultural transformation,” he said.
He said the Presidency has mandated all NCAN state chapters to conduct elections within one year from today’s date.
Yinusa explained that rushing elections sooner would disrupt the upcoming cashew season, a critical period for farmers and exporters.
He said such could also undermine the very stability the interim leadership seeks to restore.
“This timeline provides space to rebuild NCAN’s structures, protect farmers’ interests during the harvest.
“It will also ensure free and fair elections at both state and national levels within 365 days,” he emphasized.
The Presidency also praised the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS) and the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI) for their contributions to the Cashew Policy Roadmap.
It reaffirmed NCAN’s role as a partner in its implementation.
“Under this interim leadership, we expect NCAN to operate transparently, democratically, and in full support of government policy.Yinusa stands firmly behind these reforms,” Mr. Yinusa concluded.
