Nigeria and Namibia are taking steps to strengthen cooperation in coffee production, trade and investment, with plans to introduce Nigerian coffee into the Namibian market and expand opportunities for businesses in both countries.
Namibia’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Walde Ndevashiya, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday, November 2, 2026, at the second Coffee Festival in Calabar. He said the proposed partnership followed a trade mission organised by the Namibian Embassy earlier in 2026, which generated interest among Nigerian businesses in Namibia’s economic opportunities.
Ndevashiya said two Namibian business representatives who participated in the mission were attending the festival to reinforce the collaboration. He urged African countries to move beyond commitments to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) by removing tariff and non-tariff barriers to intra-African trade.
The 2026 festival, organised by Lingzhi Global, a Nigerian coffee brand, is themed “Sustainability: Building the Future of Coffee in Nigeria”.
Former Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Pauline Tallen, described the initiative as an opportunity to transform the sector, urging Nigerians to support locally produced commodities and homegrown businesses. She also commended the convener, Mrs Blessing Tangtur, for creating opportunities for young people and attracting international partners.
Cross River Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Mr Johnson Ebokpo, said the state was targeting the production of 100 million coffee seedlings within 10 years. He urged investors to establish processing facilities and supporting infrastructure, including community-owned washing, hauling and grading stations, to strengthen the coffee value chain and create jobs.
Meanwhile, Prof. Chukwudi Michael of Taraba State University, Jalingo, stressed the need for reliable farm and production records, alongside participatory research and integrated weed-control strategies, to improve planning, traceability and access to international markets.
Leave a Reply