President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a six-month ban on the export of raw shea nuts.
The directive, announced by Vice President Kashim Shettima in Abuja, is expected to reposition Nigeria in the global shea industry and generate billions in revenue.
According to Shettima, the measure is not designed to restrict trade but to strengthen local production.
“This is not an anti-trade policy but a pro-value addition policy. The goal is to supply our factories with raw materials, run them at full capacity, and create jobs for our people,” he said.
Nigeria currently produces nearly 40% of global shea output but contributes only 1% to the $6.5 billion global shea market.
Shettima described this as unacceptable and stressed that the ban would help build a stronger value chain.
Moreover, he explained that transforming raw nuts into refined shea butter, oil, and derivatives would boost industrialisation, rural development, gender empowerment, and foreign exchange earnings.
“By 2027, we target a ten-fold increase in earnings,” Shettima added, noting that agreements with Brazil would help fast-track Nigerian shea exports into South American markets within three months.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, welcomed the decision, describing it as long overdue.
He disclosed that Nigeria currently produces about 350,000 metric tonnes of shea nuts annually across 30 states, with the potential to increase output to 900,000 tonnes.
However, processors are working at only 35–50% of their installed capacity because most raw nuts are shipped abroad.
Industry stakeholders say the ban could be a game changer for the Nigerian shea value chain.
With local factories expected to receive steady supply, the processing sector may finally reach full capacity, unlocking thousands of jobs and increasing export earnings.
However, government officials maintain that the short-term discomfort is necessary for long-term benefits.
The U.S., Europe, and Asian markets remain strong buyers of refined shea products, which are used in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and food industries.
Therefore, Nigeria stands to gain significantly if it moves from raw exports to refined products.
As global demand for natural oils continues to rise, Nigeria’s bold step has the potential to reshape its place in the international shea industry.
