President Bola Tinubu has approved a fresh one-year extension of the ban on the export of raw shea nuts.
The decision was announced on Wednesday, just hours before the earlier six-month restriction was set to expire. Moreover, the renewed directive means the ban will now run from February 26, 2026, to February 25, 2027.
The move has sparked renewed attention across Nigeria’s agricultural and export sectors. Many stakeholders had expected a review. However, the Federal Government chose to double down on the policy.
According to the presidency, the raw shea nut export ban is aimed at strengthening local industries. It is also designed to encourage value addition within Nigeria instead of exporting unprocessed produce.
In a statement released by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, the administration said the policy aligns with broader economic reforms.
“The ban aims to deepen processing capacity within Nigeria, enhance livelihoods in shea-producing communities, and promote the growth of Nigerian exports anchored on value-added products,” the statement reads.
Furthermore, President Tinubu has authorised closer coordination between the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and the Presidential Food Security Coordination Unit. The goal is to create a unified national framework for the shea nut value chain.
“To further these objectives, President Tinubu has authorised the two Ministers of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, and the Presidential Food Security Coordination Unit (PFSCU), to coordinate the implementation of a unified, evidence-based national framework that aligns industrialisation, trade, and investment priorities across the shea nut value chain,” the statement added.
In addition, the President approved the adoption of an export framework developed by the Nigerian Commodity Exchange. All previous waivers that allowed direct export of raw shea nuts have been withdrawn.
Any excess supply, it was stated, must now be exported strictly under the NCX framework. Therefore, tighter controls are expected across the sector.
Moreover, the Federal Ministry of Finance has been directed to provide access to a dedicated NESS Support Window. This support will enable the launch of a Livelihood Finance Mechanism to boost production and processing.
