President Bola Tinubu has approved a one-year extension of the ban on exporting raw shea nuts, effective from February 26, 2026, to February 25, 2027.
The announcement, made in a press release from the State House on Wednesday, reflects the administration’s ongoing drive to expand domestic processing, enhance value addition, and fortify Nigeria’s industrial capabilities within the agricultural sector.
Bayo Onanuga, the President’s special adviser on information and strategy, explained that the measure aligns with the government’s industrialisation goals under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“The decision underscores the administration’s commitment to advancing industrial development, strengthening domestic value addition, and supporting the objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda,” the statement read.
The presidency noted that the policy aims to grow Nigeria’s shea processing capacity, boost livelihoods in producing regions, and prioritise exports of value-added products over raw commodities.
“To further these objectives, President Tinubu has authorised the two Ministers of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, and the Presidential Food Security Coordination Unit to coordinate the implementation of a unified, evidence-based national framework that aligns industrialisation, trade, and investment priorities across the shea nut value chain,” the statement added.
The President also approved the adoption of an export framework developed by the Nigerian Commodity Exchange, NCX, and mandated the removal of all existing waivers allowing the direct export of raw shea nuts.
“He also approved the adoption of an export framework established by the Nigerian Commodity Exchange and the withdrawal of all waivers allowing the direct export of raw shea nuts,” Onanuga stated.
Under the new directive, any surplus raw shea nuts must be exported exclusively via the Nigerian Commodity Exchange framework.
“The President directed that any excess supply of raw shea nuts should be exported exclusively through the NCX framework, in accordance with the approved guidelines,” the statement noted.
Tinubu further instructed the federal ministry of finance to provide access to a dedicated NESS Support Window to enable the federal ministry of industry, trade and investment to pilot a livelihood finance mechanism aimed at strengthening production and processing capacity.
Shea nuts, which grow primarily in Nigeria’s savanna belt, are the main raw material for shea butter — a high-value product widely used in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and edible oils.
The federal government highlighted that processed shea butter commands far higher prices in international markets.
“The federal government encourages processing shea nuts into butter locally, as butter fetches between 10 and 20 times the price of the raw nuts,” the statement added.
The government initially imposed a six-month temporary ban on raw shea nut exports on August 26, 2025, to promote local processing, enhance value addition, and limit the export of unprocessed commodities.
Jumoke Oduwole, minister of Industry, trade and investment, assured stakeholders during a validation session in Abuja that the policy would be reviewed considering its impact on producers, exporters, and foreign exchange earnings.
The latest extension demonstrates the government’s determination to maintain the restriction, advancing Nigeria’s transition from a raw material exporter to a competitive hub for refined and value-added agricultural products.
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