President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a one-year extension of the ban on the export of raw shea nuts, effective from February 26, 2026, to February 25, 2027.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
According to the presidency, the extension reflects the administration’s commitment to advancing industrial development, promoting domestic value addition, and supporting the broader economic objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Tinubu stated that the policy is aimed at strengthening local processing capacity, improving livelihoods in shea-producing communities, and encouraging export growth driven by value-added products rather than raw commodities.
The president also directed the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, alongside the Presidential Food Security Coordination Unit, to coordinate the implementation of a unified national framework designed to align industrialisation, trade, and investment priorities across the shea nut value chain.
As part of the measures, the government approved the adoption of an export framework developed by the Nigerian Commodity Exchange and ordered the withdrawal of all existing waivers permitting direct export of raw shea nuts.
Under the new directive, any excess supply of raw shea nuts approved for export must be processed through the Nigerian Commodity Exchange in accordance with established guidelines.
Tinubu further instructed the Federal Ministry of Finance to provide access to a dedicated NESS Support Window to enable the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment pilot a livelihood finance mechanism aimed at strengthening production and processing capacity within the sector.
Shea nuts, derived from the shea tree commonly found across Nigeria’s savanna belt, serve as the primary raw material for shea butter, which is widely used in cosmetics, skincare products, and edible cooking oil production due to its moisturising and anti-inflammatory properties.