President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ignored outcry by traders and approved a one-year extension of the ban on the export of raw shea nuts, pushing it from February 26, 2026, to February 25, 2027.
In a statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, the Presidency said the extension reflects the administration’s resolve to boost industrialisation, deepen domestic value addition, and advance the Renewed Hope Agenda.
According to the statement, the continued restriction is aimed at expanding Nigeria’s processing capacity, improving livelihoods in shea-producing communities, and strengthening exports driven by value-added products.
To ensure effective implementation, the President authorised the two ministers in the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment, alongside the Presidential Food Security Coordination Unit, to harmonise efforts under a unified, evidence-based national framework. The framework is expected to align industrial, trade, and investment priorities across the shea value chain.
Tinubu also approved the adoption of an export framework developed by the Nigerian Commodity Exchange and ordered the withdrawal of all waivers previously granted for the direct export of raw shea nuts.
He directed that any surplus raw shea nuts must be exported strictly through the NCX framework and in line with approved guidelines.
In addition, the president instructed the Federal Ministry of Finance to grant access to a dedicated NESS Support Window. This will enable the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment to pilot a Livelihood Finance Mechanism designed to enhance production and processing capacity.
Shea nuts, harvested from the shea tree widely found in Nigeria’s savanna belt, are processed into shea butter, which is valued for its moisturising, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant qualities. The butter is widely used in cosmetics for skin and hair care, as well as in cooking oil production.
The federal government noted that processed shea butter commands between 10 and 20 times the price of raw nuts, reinforcing its push for local processing. It reaffirmed its commitment to policies that promote inclusive growth, support local manufacturing, and position Nigeria competitively within global agricultural value chains.
This comes despite numerous calls by traders on the federal government to halt the ban on shea nut exports following its inimical impact on investors.
