President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a six-month suspension of raw shea nut exports as part of efforts to protect local processors, curb informal trade, and unlock the full potential of Nigeria’s shea value chain.
The directive, announced in Abuja by Vice President Kashim Shettima at a multi-stakeholder meeting, is expected to generate at least $300 million in additional revenue within the short term.
“This is not an anti-trade policy, but a pro-value addition policy,” Shettima said. “Nigeria produces nearly 40% of global shea, yet we account for only 1% of the $6.5 billion international market. That is unacceptable. Our goal is to feed our factories, run them at full capacity, and create jobs for our people.”
The Vice President noted that the initiative would reposition Nigeria as a global supplier of refined shea butter, oil, and derivatives — while accelerating industrialisation, rural development, and gender empowerment. He added that by 2027, Nigeria hopes to achieve a ten-fold increase in shea earnings, citing new trade agreements with Brazil that will grant market access to Nigerian shea products within three months.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, welcomed the development, stressing that it was long overdue. He explained that Nigeria produces an estimated 350,000 metric tonnes of shea annually across 30 states — with the potential to reach 900,000 tonnes — yet domestic processors currently operate at just 35–50% capacity.
“With this policy, we can finally bridge the gap between production and processing, and ensure that the benefits of shea translate into wealth and jobs for Nigerians,” Kyari said.
