President Bola Tinubu has approved a six-month suspension on the export of raw shea nuts, a move aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s position in the global shea industry. The directive, announced by Vice President Kashim Shettima at a multi-stakeholder meeting in Abuja, takes immediate effect and will be subject to review after expiration.
According to the Federal Government, the ban is not a restriction on trade but a “pro–value addition policy” designed to protect local processors, curb informal cross-border trade, and ensure that Nigeria moves up the value chain in the global shea economy.
Why This Temporary Ban on Shea Nut
The government’s decision stems from concerns that Nigeria, despite producing nearly 40 percent of the world’s shea nuts, accounts for less than one percent of the $6.5 billion global shea market.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, explained that an estimated 90,000 metric tonnes of raw shea are lost annually to informal cross-border trade, undermining the nation’s processors, who are operating at only 35–50 percent capacity despite a national installed capacity of 160,000 metric tonnes.
According to Kyari, “Without corrective action, Nigeria risked becoming a raw depot for opportunistic and illicit buyers, disempowering rural women and forfeiting billions in potential export revenues.” He noted that neighbouring countries such as Ghana, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Togo have already placed restrictions on raw shea exports to protect their local industries, leaving Nigeria vulnerable as the last open market.
The Vice President further framed the ban as a tool for economic empowerment and industrialisation. “This decision will transform Nigeria from an exporter of raw shea nut to a global supplier of refined shea butter, oil and other derivatives,” Shettima said. “It is about rural transformation, gender empowerment, and expanding Nigeria’s global trade footprint.”
What This Means for the Nigerian Economy*
The government projects that the shea sector could generate at least $300 million annually in the short term and potentially position Nigeria to capture a significant share of the global market, projected to reach $9 billion by 2030.
Beyond revenue, the policy has social implications. With 90% of shea pickers and processors being women, the ban is expected to directly improve rural livelihoods and empower millions of women involved in the value chain. “By protecting the shea industry, we are protecting livelihoods, dignity and opportunity for millions of our women,” Shettima said.
The move also aligns with Nigeria’s Zero Oil Plan, which prioritises commodities with high global demand as alternatives to crude oil revenue. By scaling up domestic processing, the country hopes to build competitiveness against regional players like Ghana and Burkina Faso, who have already secured stronger positions in the international shea market.
If effectively implemented, the ban could mark a turning point for Nigeria’s non-oil export strategy, transforming the shea sector from an overlooked raw commodity into a global driver of industrialisation and inclusive growth.
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