Tinubu extends ban on raw shea nut export

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

The decision, announced in a State House statement by presidential adviser Bayo Onanuga, is aimed at boosting local processing, strengthening domestic value addition and supporting the administration’s industrialisation drive under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

According to the statement, the policy seeks to expand Nigeria’s shea processing capacity, improve livelihoods in producing communities and grow exports built on value-added shea products rather than raw commodities.

To drive implementation, the President authorised the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and the Presidential Food Security Coordination Unit (PFSCU) to coordinate a unified national framework aligning industrial, trade and investment priorities across the shea value chain.

Tinubu also approved the adoption of an export framework developed by the Nigerian Commodity Exchange (NCX) and ordered the withdrawal of all waivers that previously allowed the direct export of raw shea nuts. Under the directive, any excess supply must be exported strictly through the NCX framework in line with approved guidelines.

In addition, the President directed the Federal Ministry of Finance Nigeria to provide access to a dedicated NESS Support Window. The funding is expected to help the industry ministry pilot a Livelihood Finance Mechanism designed to strengthen shea production and processing capacity.

Shea nuts, derived from the shea tree widely found across Nigeria’s savanna belt, serve as the primary raw material for shea butter — a product used extensively in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and cooking oil. The government noted that processed shea butter can sell for between 10 and 20 times the price of raw nuts, underscoring the economic rationale for local processing.

The Federal Government said the extension reflects its commitment to policies that promote inclusive growth, support local manufacturing and position Nigeria as a competitive player in global agricultural value chains.