By Joy Onu
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a one-year extension of the ban on the export of raw shea nuts, reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to domestic value addition and industrial growth.
The renewed restriction, which runs from February 26, 2026, to February 25, 2027, is aimed at deepening local processing capacity and improving earnings from value-added exports within the shea value chain.
According to a State House press release issued on Tuesday, the decision aligns with the administration’s broader industrialisation drive under the Renewed Hope Agenda and is expected to enhance livelihoods in shea-producing communities across the country.
As part of the new measures, President Tinubu authorised the ministers overseeing the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, in collaboration with the Presidential Food Security Coordination Unit, to coordinate a unified national framework for the sector. The framework will harmonise policies on industrialisation, trade, and investment across the shea nut value chain.
The President also approved the adoption of an export framework developed by the Nigerian Commodity Exchange and ordered the withdrawal of all existing waivers that previously permitted the direct export of raw shea nuts.
He directed that any surplus raw shea nuts be exported strictly through the Nigerian Commodity Exchange under the approved guidelines.
In addition, the Federal Ministry of Finance has been mandated to provide access to a dedicated NESS Support Window. The funding mechanism will allow the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment to pilot a Livelihood Finance Mechanism designed to strengthen production and processing capacity.
Shea nuts, harvested from trees predominantly found in Nigeria’s Savanna belt, are processed into shea butter—an ingredient widely used in cosmetics and edible oils. Government sources note that processed shea butter can generate between 10 and 20 times the revenue of raw nuts, underscoring the economic benefits of prioritising local processing.
The Presidency maintained that the policy will promote inclusive growth, expand local manufacturing, and position Nigeria more competitively in global agricultural value chains.
