Tinubu Extends Ban on Raw Shea Nut Exports to Boost Local Processing

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a one-year extension of the ban on the export of raw shea nuts, pushing the restriction from February 26, 2026, to February 25, 2027.

The move is aimed at accelerating Nigeria’s industrial growth, encouraging domestic value addition, and aligning with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

By sustaining the ban, the government seeks to expand local processing capacity, improve incomes in shea-producing communities, and promote exports of finished, value-added products.

To ensure effective implementation, the President directed the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and the Presidential Food Security Coordination Unit to jointly develop and execute a coordinated national framework for the shea value chain, anchored on data-driven policies.

In addition, Tinubu approved the adoption of an export framework by the Nigerian Commodity Exchange and ordered the cancellation of all waivers previously granted for the direct export of raw shea nuts. Any surplus production must now be exported strictly under the new regulatory framework.

The President also instructed the Federal Ministry of Finance to facilitate funding through a dedicated NESS Support Window.

This is expected to support a Livelihood Finance Mechanism aimed at strengthening production and processing capabilities across the sector.

Shea nuts, sourced from trees across Nigeria’s savanna belt, are processed into shea butter—widely used in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and cooking oil.

Processed shea products command significantly higher market value, often selling at up to 20 times the price of raw nuts.

The Federal Government reiterated its commitment to policies that drive local manufacturing, inclusive economic growth, and Nigeria’s competitiveness in global agricultural markets.