President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a one-year extension of the ban on the export of raw shea nuts, reinforcing the Federal Government’s push to deepen local processing and strengthen value addition in the agricultural sector.
The extension, which takes effect from February 26, 2026, to February 25, 2027, was announced on Wednesday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
According to the statement, the decision “underscores the administration’s commitment to advancing industrial development, strengthening domestic value addition, and supporting the objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda.”
Pinnacle Daily reported in August 2025 that President Tinubu ordered the immediate suspension of raw shea butter nut exports for six months, declaring that Nigeria must stop exporting poverty and start creating wealth locally.
However, the directive had gathered reactions, including calls for a phased implementation of the shea nut ban to safeguard investors’ confidence as well as clarification from the Nigerian government.
The ban is designed to expand Nigeria’s shea processing capacity, improve livelihoods in shea-producing communities, and promote the export of value-added products rather than raw commodities.
In his directive, President Tinubu authorised the two ministers of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and the Presidential Food Security Coordination Unit to coordinate the implementation of “a unified, evidence-based national framework that aligns industrialisation, trade, and investment priorities across the shea nut value chain.”
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He also approved the adoption of an export framework established by the Nigerian Commodity Exchange (NCX). He ordered the withdrawal of all waivers previously granted for the direct export of raw shea nuts.
The President further directed that any excess supply of raw shea nuts be exported exclusively through the NCX framework in line with approved guidelines.
To support increased production and processing, Tinubu instructed the Federal Ministry of Finance to provide access to a dedicated NESS Support Window to enable the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment to pilot a Livelihood Finance Mechanism aimed at strengthening capacity across the value chain.
Shea nuts, harvested from the shea tree common in Nigeria’s savanna belt, are processed into shea butter, a key ingredient in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and edible oils.
The Federal Government has maintained that processing the nuts locally significantly increases export earnings, as shea butter can fetch between 10 and 20 times the price of raw nuts.
The administration said it remains committed to policies that promote inclusive growth, support local manufacturing and position Nigeria as a competitive player in global agricultural value chains.
Alex is a business journalist cum data enthusiast with the Pinnacle Daily. He can be reached via ealex@thepinnacleng.com, @ehime_alex on X
