President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a one-year extension of the ban on the export of raw shea nuts, reinforcing his administration’s push to strengthen local processing and boost Nigeria’s industrial development.
The extension, which takes effect from February 26, 2026, to February 25, 2027, was confirmed in a statement issued on Wednesday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
According to the presidency, the move aligns with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at promoting domestic value addition, expanding industrial capacity, and supporting economic growth through local production.
President Tinubu said the ban is designed to enhance Nigeria’s shea processing industry, create jobs, and improve livelihoods in shea-producing communities, while increasing the country’s export earnings from value-added products such as shea butter.
To ensure effective implementation, Tinubu directed the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and the Presidential Food Security Coordination Unit (PFSCU) to oversee a coordinated national framework for the shea nut value chain. The framework will focus on aligning industrial, trade, and investment policies to support sustainable growth in the sector.
The president also approved the adoption of an export framework established by the Nigerian Commodity Exchange (NCX) and ordered the withdrawal of all waivers previously granted for the direct export of raw shea nuts.
Under the new directive, any surplus raw shea nuts must be exported exclusively through the Nigerian Commodity Exchange in accordance with approved regulatory guidelines.
In addition, Tinubu instructed the Federal Ministry of Finance to provide access to a dedicated support window under the Nigeria Export Expansion Grant Scheme (NESS) to fund a livelihood finance mechanism aimed at strengthening shea production and processing capacity nationwide.
Shea nuts, harvested mainly in Nigeria’s savanna belt, are the primary raw material for shea butter, a globally sought-after product used in cosmetics, skincare, haircare, and cooking oil due to its moisturizing and antioxidant properties.
The policy extension is expected to encourage local manufacturing, increase export value, and position Nigeria as a major global exporter of processed shea products rather than raw materials.
