President Bola Tinubu has approved a one-year extension of the ban on raw shea nut exports, reinforcing the federal government’s push for local processing and industrialisation.
The extension, which takes effect from February 26, 2026, and runs through February 25, 2027, aims to deepen Nigeria’s value addition efforts, promote sustainable industrial growth, and strengthen livelihoods in shea-producing communities across the country.
An official statement issued on Wednesday by the Presidential Spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, explained that the decision aligned with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to transform Nigeria’s agricultural commodities into higher-value export products.
The extension of the ban ensures that shea nuts are processed domestically into products such as shea butter, rather than being exported in raw form, where they earn far lower revenue.
Under the directive, the Ministers of Industry, Trade and Investment, working in conjunction with the Presidential Food Security Coordination Unit, have been tasked with implementing a unified national framework for the shea value chain.
Additionally, President Tinubu has approved the adoption of an export framework developed by the Nigerian Commodity Exchange, which is designed to regulate exports, ensure adherence to national quality standards, and guarantee value addition.
All existing waivers permitting the direct export of raw shea nuts have been withdrawn. Going forward, any surplus shea nuts intended for export must pass through the Nigerian Commodity Exchange framework.
This ensures transparency, traceability, fair market pricing, and compliance with domestic processing requirements.
To further support domestic processing, President Tinubu directed the Federal Ministry of Finance to facilitate access to a dedicated NESS Support Window.
This facility is intended to back initiatives within the shea industry, including a Livelihood Finance Mechanism designed to enhance production capacity, improve processing efficiency, and increase competitiveness in local and international markets.
Shea nuts are oil-rich fruits harvested from the shea tree, predominantly found in Nigeria’s savanna belt.
They are key raw materials for multiple industries, including cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and edible oils.
When processed into shea butter, the product commands significantly higher prices on international markets than raw nuts, making local processing a critical factor for maximising export revenue.
By extending the export ban, the federal government hopes to encourage more investments in processing facilities, increase employment opportunities in shea-producing communities, and create a robust industrial ecosystem around the commodity.
This measure also seeks to strengthen Nigeria’s position as a leading exporter of value-added agricultural products while reducing dependency on raw exports.
