ABSTRACT Black pod disease is the main limiting factor confronting cocoa cultivation in Nigeria. Copper-based fungicide is used annually to control the disease. Accumulation of copper in soil can increase the level of Cu residue in cocoa beans and soil contamination. Soil samples under cocoa plantations were collected from 128 cocoa producing local government areas of the ten states that account for 99% of total cocoa bean output in Nigeria. The samples were analyzed for Cu, Pb and Cd. Result showed that, copper was detected in all (100%) the cocoa plantations while only 1.81% and 5.43% had traceable Pb and Cd residues respectively. Correlation analysis showed that, annual rainfall and volume of cocoa output were the main factors that influence the amount of copper in cocoa plantations. Of the five regions where cocoa is cultivated in Nigeria, Pb was only detected in the Southwest and Southsouth regions while Cd was only detected in the South west region. Application of Cu-based fungicides in the control of black pod disease is the main cause of elevated values of copper residues in cocoa plantation. The presence of Pb and Cd in Nigerian cocoa soils is mainly pedogenic rather than anthropogenic. The levels of Cu, Pb and Cd in cocoa plantations in Nigeria still fall within the safe and acceptable limits. Keywords: Cocoa, heavy metals, copper residue, Lead, Cadmium