President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a one-year extension of Nigeria’s ban on the export of raw shea nuts, pushing the restriction forward from February 26, 2026, to February 25, 2027.
Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed the extension in a statement, reiterating the administration’s commitment to inclusive growth and industrialisation.
The move, he noted is aimed at boosting Nigeria’s industrial development, strengthening domestic value addition, and advancing the objectives of the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
According to the directive, the ban is designed to deepen local processing capacity, improve livelihoods in shea-producing communities, and expand Nigeria’s footprint in global markets through value-added exports.
Shea butter, derived from the oil-rich nuts, is widely used in cosmetics and cooking, and commands prices up to 20 times higher than raw nuts.
To ensure effective implementation, Tinubu has tasked the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, alongside the Presidential Food Security Coordination Unit (PFSCU), with coordinating a unified national framework for the shea value chain.
The Nigerian Commodity Exchange (NCX) will serve as the exclusive channel for any excess raw nut exports, with all previous waivers for direct export now withdrawn.
The President also directed the 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.
Shea trees, common across Nigeria’s Savanna belt, produce nuts that are processed into butter renowned for its moisturising, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties.
By prioritising local processing, the government hopes to create jobs, support rural communities, and position Nigeria as a competitive player in global agricultural value chains.
