President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a one-year extension of the ban on the export of raw shea nuts, reinforcing efforts to boost local processing and advance Nigeria’s industrialisation drive.
The extension takes effect from February 26, 2026 to February 25, 2027, according to a statement issued Wednesday in Abuja by the President’s spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga.
The decision underscores the administration’s commitment to domestic value addition under the Renewed Hope Agenda, with a focus on transforming Nigeria’s agricultural commodities into higher-value export products.
ALSO READ Tinubu orders temporary ban on export of raw shea nuts
The ban is aimed at deepening local processing capacity, creating jobs, and improving livelihoods in shea-producing communities, while promoting sustainable export growth anchored on value-added shea butter and related products.
President Tinubu directed the Federal Ministry 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 the adoption of an export framework developed by the to regulate and streamline exports in line with national quality standards and value addition objectives.
The President ordered the withdrawal of all existing waivers permitting direct export of raw shea nuts, tightening enforcement to support domestic processors.
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 pricing.
In addition, Tinubu instructed the Federal Ministry of Finance to facilitate access to a dedicated NESS Support Window to strengthen financial backing for the shea industry.
The intervention will enable the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment to pilot a Livelihood Finance Mechanism aimed at enhancing production capacity, improving processing efficiency, and boosting competitiveness.
Shea nuts, harvested from the shea tree widely found across Nigeria’s savanna belt, serve as key raw materials for multiple manufacturing industries. When processed into shea butter, they are used in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and edible oils, commanding significantly higher prices in international markets than raw nuts.
The Federal Government reiterated its commitment to policies that promote inclusive economic growth, strengthen local manufacturing and position Nigeria as a leading exporter of value-added agricultural products.
