By Agrobroadcast Team
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has extended the prohibition on the export of raw shea nuts for another year, reinforcing the Federal Government’s push to prioritise local processing and industrial growth.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the extension takes effect from February 26, 2026, and will run until February 25, 2027.
The move, according to the presidency, aligns with the administration’s industrialisation drive under the Renewed Hope Agenda, with a focus on boosting domestic value addition and strengthening Nigeria’s position in global agricultural value chains.
The ban is designed to encourage in-country processing of shea nuts, expand production capacity, and improve livelihoods in shea-producing communities across the country. By promoting local conversion of raw nuts into finished products, the government aims to stimulate job creation and increase export earnings from higher-value goods.
To ensure effective implementation, the President has directed the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, in collaboration with the Presidential Food Security Coordination Unit (PFSCU), to coordinate a unified and evidence-based national framework. The framework is expected to harmonise industrial, trade, and investment policies across the shea value chain.
In addition, the President approved the adoption of an export framework developed by the Nigerian Commodity Exchange and ordered the withdrawal of all waivers previously granted for the direct export of raw shea nuts. Any surplus raw shea nuts, he directed, must be exported strictly through the NCX framework in line with approved guidelines.
The Federal Ministry of Finance has also been instructed to provide access to a dedicated NESS Support Window. This will enable the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment to pilot a Livelihood Finance Mechanism aimed at strengthening both production and processing capacity in the sector.
Shea nuts, harvested from shea trees predominantly found in Nigeria’s savanna belt, are processed into shea butter a product widely used in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and food production due to its moisturising, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
While raw nuts attract relatively low prices, processed shea butter can command between 10 and 20 times their value on the international market.
The Federal Government reiterated its commitment to policies that promote inclusive economic growth, encourage local manufacturing, and enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness in global agricultural trade.