• Nigeria to launch nationwide clove farming campaign in April 2026
• 74,000 farmers to cultivate 0.5 hectares each with improved inputs
• Goal: reduce imports, boost exports, and tap $7.2B global market

Nigeria plans to launch its first nationwide commercial clove cultivation campaign during the 2026 rainy season, which typically begins in April. Abdullahi Shuaibu, national coordinator of the National Association of Clove Farmers, Processors and Marketers, announced the plan on Sunday, Jan. 25, in Zaria, Kaduna State.

Local media report that the new agricultural campaign will mobilize 74,000 farmers across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Each farmer is expected to receive improved seeds and inputs to cultivate 0.5 hectares.

While harvest forecasts are not yet known, the association aims to scale up production. The initiative seeks to meet domestic demand by substituting imports and to export any surplus production. Mr. Shuaibu said the initiative is aimed at making Nigeria the second African country, after Tanzania, to produce cloves on a commercial scale.

Trade Map data show that Nigeria imported an average of 1,184 tons of cloves per year between 2020 and 2024, with a peak of 3,886 tons recorded in 2021. Import costs averaged about $1 million per year over the same period, with a peak of $2.4 million, also in 2021.

The export push reflects an effort by Nigeria’s clove industry to capture a share of a growing international market. Demand is driven by Indonesia’s kretek tobacco sector and wider use in food preservation, personal care and pharmaceutical research.

According to the Indian firm Mordor Intelligence, the market is estimated at $5.7 billion in 2025 and is expected to grow by an average of 5.3% per year to reach $7.2 billion by 2030. It remains to be seen whether Nigeria can develop a robust and competitive clove industry, similar to its ginger sector.

Stéphanas Assocle