Tinubu Orders Temporary Ban on Export of Raw Shea Nuts, Target $300m Revenue

President Bola Tinubu has approved a temporary ban on the export of raw shea nuts in a move aimed at promoting domestic processing and strengthening Nigeria’s non-oil export economy.

The six-month ban, which takes effect immediately, was announced on Tuesday in Abuja. Vice President Kashim Shettima, who conveyed the directive, said the policy was designed to encourage value addition, protect local industries, and curb informal trade in the shea sector.

Shettima explained that the decision aligns with the administration’s broader economic diversification agenda. According to him, restricting the export of raw shea nuts will ensure that more of the commodity is processed locally into butter and other derivatives, creating jobs and positioning Nigeria as a major supplier of refined shea products to the global market.

“With this pro-value addition policy, we aim to protect domestic processors, generate substantial foreign exchange, and boost industrial capacity,” Shettima said. He added that the government is targeting at least $300 million annually from the shea industry in the short term.

Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, also confirmed the development, noting that the ban would secure steady raw material supplies for local processors. He stressed that increased local refining of shea nuts would enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness in the international market, where demand for shea butter is steadily growing in the cosmetics, food, and pharmaceutical industries.

The Federal Government said it will review the policy after six months, with the possibility of extending or modifying it based on outcomes and stakeholder feedback.

Nigeria is one of the world’s leading producers of shea nuts, accounting for a significant share of the global supply. However, most of its exports have been in raw form, limiting the country’s share of the estimated multi-billion-dollar shea butter value chain.