Pres Tinubu extends raw shea nuts export ban

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the extension of the ban placed on the export of raw shea nuts for another year, effective from February 26, 2026, to the following month of next year.

This, president Tinubu believes would enhance backwards integration policy of 30% value addition for more economic earnings and empowerment of players at the produce value chains in the country.

The ban is designed to strengthen local processing capacity, improve livelihoods in shea-producing communities, and promote the export of value-added products rather than raw materials.

 President Tinubu has directed the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and the Presidential Food Security Coordination Unit (PFSCU) to coordinate a unified, evidence-based national framework that will align with industrialization, trade, and investment priorities across the shea nut value chain.

In addition , President Tinubu approved the adoption of the Nigerian Commodity Exchange (NCX) export framework, while withdrawing all previous waivers that allowed direct export of raw shea nuts with authorization to be only allowed to export raw nuts in accordance with the approved guidelines.

The President also instructed the Federal Ministry of Finance to provide access to a dedicated NESS Support Window, enabling the piloting of a Livelihood Finance Mechanism to strengthen production and processing capacity in shea-producing areas.

Shea nuts which are peculiar to Nigeria’s Savanna belt were the raw materials for shea butter which is widely used in cosmetics, skincare, haircare products, and edible oils. Locally processed shea butter commands between 10 and 20 times the price of raw nuts, highlighting the economic potential of value addition.