President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced a temporary suspension of raw shea nut exports, describing the move as a major step toward strengthening Nigeria’s shea value chain, creating jobs, and increasing economic opportunities for farmers—particularly women who dominate the sector.
The President, on Tuesday, approved an immediate six-month halt on the export of raw shea nuts. According to him, the policy is designed to curb informal trade, ensure adequate supply for local processors, stabilise the industry, and unlock greater economic value. Early projections indicate that the measure could generate as much as $300 million annually in the short term.
In a message shared on his official X account on Wednesday, Tinubu stressed the importance of shifting from the export of unprocessed raw materials to value-added production within Nigeria.
> “Nigeria’s shea is our green wealth. We produce nearly 40 percent of the world’s supply, yet we capture less than one percent of its $6.5 billion global market. That imbalance ends now,” he declared.
The decision, he explained, was based on recommendations from the Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Unit. It is aimed at strengthening local processing capacity, securing supply for domestic industries, and boosting income for farmers.
> “I have approved a six-month suspension of raw shea exports, on the recommendation of the Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Unit, to secure supply for local processors, create jobs, and protect a value chain where 95 percent of pickers are women. This is a win for our farmers, for our women, and for Nigeria,” Tinubu added.
He further disclosed that Vice President Kashim Shettima will work with industry stakeholders to expand domestic processing infrastructure, ensuring that the reform delivers sustainable benefits.
> “VP Kashim Shettima will work with stakeholders to rapidly expand processing capacity and ensure that this reform translates into lasting prosperity. With new market access opening in Brazil and beyond, we will no longer export poverty and import value. We will create value at home, compete abroad, and deliver prosperity under the Renewed Hope Agenda,” the President said.
Nigeria is currently the world’s largest producer of shea nuts, contributing nearly 40 percent of global supply. However, the country has historically earned little from the $6.5 billion international shea market due to its dependence on raw exports.
