The Federal Government has approved an extension of the ban on the export of raw shea nuts for a further one year, from February 26, 2026, to February 25, 2027.
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 development was confirmed in a statement released by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.
According to the statement, the ban is aimed at deepening Nigeria’s processing capacity, improving livelihoods in shea-producing communities, and promoting exports of value-added products.
All previous waivers allowing direct export of raw shea nuts have been withdrawn.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed that any excess supply of raw shea nuts must be exported exclusively through the Nigerian Commodity Exchange (NCX) framework, in accordance with approved guidelines.
He also authorised 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 aligns industrialisation, trade, and investment priorities across the shea nut value chain.
In addition, the President 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 to strengthen production and processing capacity in shea-producing areas.
Shea nuts, the oil-rich fruits from the shea tree found in Nigeria’s Savanna belt, are the raw material for shea butter, widely used in cosmetics for skin and hair, as well as in edible cooking oil.
The Federal Government encourages local processing, noting that shea butter fetches between 10 and 20 times the price of raw nuts.
The move forms part of broader policies to promote inclusive growth, enhance local manufacturing, and position Nigeria as a competitive participant in global agricultural value chains.
