Tinubu Orders Temporary Ban on Export of Raw Shea Nuts
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the immediate suspension of raw shea nut exports as part of his administration’s efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s agricultural value chain and boost local industries.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, disclosed the directive on Tuesday after a briefing at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
He explained that the restriction will run for an initial period of six months and is aimed at compelling raw materials to be processed locally before export.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima is overseeing discussions with key stakeholders to ensure smooth implementation and compliance. According to officials, the move is designed to protect Nigeria’s processors, increase local jobs, curb informal trade routes, and ensure that the country captures more value from its abundant shea resources.
Nigeria is one of the world’s leading producers of shea nuts, which are used in cosmetics, food, and pharmaceutical industries.
However, most of the produce has been exported in raw form for decades, denying the country the higher economic returns of value-added processing. Experts believe that if local processors operate at full capacity, Nigeria could earn hundreds of millions of dollars annually from refined shea products.
The ban aligns with a broader West African trend, as countries such as Ghana and Burkina Faso have also discouraged the export of raw shea to support domestic industries. In Nigeria’s case, government officials have assured farmers and cooperatives that the measure will ultimately work in their favour, leading to better pricing and sustainable growth for the sector.
While raw shea nuts are restricted under this new policy, exports of processed products like shea butter and other derivatives remain permitted. The Federal Government is expected to release enforcement guidelines in the coming days, with agencies such as customs tasked with ensuring full compliance
