President Bola Tinubu has approved a one-year extension of the ban on raw shea nut exports, reinforcing efforts to boost local processing and strengthen Nigeria’s industrial growth agenda nationwide.
The extension will take effect from Feb. 26, 2026, through Feb. 25, 2027, according to an official statement issued Wednesday in Abuja by Presidential Spokesperson, Mr Bayo Onanuga.
The decision highlights the administration’s commitment to domestic value addition and industrial development under the Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at transforming Nigeria’s agricultural commodities into higher-value export products.
The ban seeks to deepen local processing capacity, create jobs, and improve livelihoods in shea-producing communities, while promoting sustainable export growth anchored on value-added shea butter and related products.
President Tinubu authorised the Ministers of Industry, Trade and Investment, alongside the Presidential Food Security Coordination Unit, to implement a unified national framework for the shea value chain.
He also approved adoption of an export framework developed by the Nigerian Commodity Exchange to regulate and streamline exports, ensuring compliance with national quality standards and value addition objectives.
The President ordered the withdrawal of all existing waivers that permitted direct export of raw shea nuts, tightening enforcement measures to support domestic processors nationwide.
He further directed that any excess supply of shea nuts be exported strictly through the approved Nigerian Commodity Exchange framework to ensure transparency, traceability, and fair market pricing.
Tinubu instructed the Federal Ministry of Finance to facilitate access to a dedicated NESS Support Window to strengthen financial backing for initiatives within the shea industry.
The support will enable the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment to pilot a Livelihood Finance Mechanism designed to enhance production capacity, processing efficiency, and competitiveness.
Shea nuts are oil-rich fruits harvested from the shea tree, widely found in Nigeria’s savanna belt, and serve as essential raw materials for multiple manufacturing industries.
When processed into shea butter, the product is widely used in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and edible oils, commanding significantly higher prices in international markets than unprocessed raw nuts.
The Federal Government reaffirmed its commitment to policies that encouraged inclusive economic growth, strengthened local manufacturing, and positioned Nigeria as a leading exporter of value-added agricultural products.
