President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered an immediate six-month ban on the export of raw shea nuts to boost local processing and expand Nigeria’s share in the $6.5 billion global shea industry. The move is expected to generate $300 million annually in the short term and significantly increase rural jobs and women’s empowerment.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, who announced the directive after a multi-stakeholder meeting at the Presidential Villa, said the ban is a value-addition policy designed to secure raw materials for local factories. He projected a ten-fold increase in revenue by 2027 if the policy is sustained.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, noted that although Nigeria produces nearly 40 percent of the world’s shea nuts, informal cross-border trade drains over 90,000 tonnes annually, leaving local processors underutilised. He added that other West African countries have already imposed similar restrictions to protect their industries.
The administration emphasised that the policy will transform Nigeria from an exporter of raw nuts into a global supplier of refined shea butter and oil. It also aligns with President Tinubu’s agenda of industrialisation, women’s empowerment, and rural transformation.