Bola Tinubu, the President of Nigeria, approved the extension of the ban on raw shea nut exports for one year. The ban ran from February 26, 2026, to February 25, 2027. The presidency released this information in a statement on February 25, 2026. Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, signed the statement.
Objectives of the Extension
The decision underscored the administration’s commitment to industrial development. Additionally, it strengthened domestic value addition and supported the Renewed Hope Agenda. The ban aimed to deepen processing capacity in Nigeria.
Furthermore, it enhanced livelihoods in shea-producing communities and promoted exports of value-added products like shea butter.
Onanuga stated, “The ban aims to deepen processing capacity within Nigeria, enhance livelihoods in shea-producing communities, and promote the growth of Nigerian exports anchored on value-added products.”
Implementation Measures
Tinubu authorized Doris Uzoka-Anite and Jamila Bio Ibrahim, the two ministers of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, along with the Presidential Food Security Coordination Unit, to coordinate a national framework.
This framework aligned industrialization, trade, and investment priorities in the shea nut value chain. He also approved the Nigerian Commodity Exchange’s export framework and withdrew all waivers for direct raw shea nut exports.
Excess supply went through the exchange’s guidelines. Moreover Tinubu directed Wale Edun, the minister of finance, to provide access to a dedicated Nigerian Export Supervision Scheme Support Window. This enabled a pilot Livelihood Finance Mechanism to boost production and processing.
Economic Implications
Shea nuts, oil-rich fruits from the shea tree in Nigeria’s Savanna belt, served as raw material for shea butter. The butter offered moisturizing, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties for cosmetics and cooking oil. Processed shea butter fetched 10 to 20 times the price of raw nuts.
As a result, the government encouraged local processing to foster inclusive growth and position Nigeria competitively in global agricultural chains.
Onanuga affirmed, “The Federal Government remains committed to policies that promote inclusive growth, local manufacturing and position Nigeria as a competitive participant in global agricultural value chains.”
