Cocoa
shipments from Nigeria’s second-largest grower Cross Rivers halted this week
after merchants and the state government disagreed over the payment of an export
levy, the Cocoa Association of Nigeria (CAN) said.
Godwin
Ukwu, spokesman for the association, said on Wednesday about 600 tonnes of
cocoa due for export had been delayed since Monday after the local government
refused to issue certificates to enable buyers ship the beans.
The
state government last Friday directed merchants to pay 20 naira ($0.1235) per
bag of cocoa (320 naira per tonne) in a levy to an account it listed in a
letter seen by Reuters, before they can could get export documents.
“Cocoa
has not moved since Monday because they (the government) have refused to give
us excavation papers,” Ukwu, whose association represents farmers, exporters
and buyers, told Reuters by telephone.
“If
we don’t shut down tomorrow the warehouses will be filled and it will be
