Nigeria has imposed a six-month ban on the export of raw shea nuts, aiming to boost local processing, create jobs, and capture a bigger share of the global shea market.
President Bola Tinubu approved the measure, announced by Vice President Kashim Shettima, with a review expected after the initial period. Agriculture Minister and other stakeholders welcomed the move, calling it a major step toward value addition.
Although Nigeria supplies 40% of global raw shea nuts, it earns just 1% of the $6.5 billion market for shea-based products. The government projects $300 million in annual revenue in the short term, potentially rising to $3 billion by 2027.
The ban is also expected to benefit women, who dominate the shea value chain, and support new processing plants such as the one recently opened in Niger State.
Experts caution, however, that the policy’s success will depend on strong investment and enforcement.