Worry Grows as Tinubu Extends Ban on Raw Shea Nut Exports

February 26, 2026

President Bola Tinubu has extended the ban on exporting raw shea nuts for another year, from 26 February 2026 to 25 February 2027, in a bid to boost local processing and value addition.

Nigeria has the largest shea belt in the world, producing about 45% of the global supply. Yet, of the estimated 800,000 tonnes of shea nuts produced annually, only around 20,000 tonnes are processed into butter locally. Most raw nuts are exported to neighbouring countries due to low-quality local processing that fails to meet international standards.

Shea butter, used in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and edible oils, commands 10 to 20 times the price of raw nuts on global markets. Experts warn that without improved processing, Nigeria risks missing out on billions of dollars in export revenue and tens of thousands of potential jobs.

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The presidency says the extended ban will expand processing capacity, improve livelihoods in producing communities, and promote exports of value-added products. Surplus nuts must now be exported exclusively through the Nigerian Commodity Exchange framework, and existing waivers for direct exports have been withdrawn.

Financial support will be provided through a Livelihood Finance Mechanism to help producers and processors scale up, aligning with the government’s industrialisation goals under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

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Prosper Okoye is a Correspondent and Research Writer at Prime Business Africa, a Nigerian journalist with experience in development reporting, public affairs, and policy-focused storytelling across Africa

Prosper Okoye

Prosper Okoye is a Correspondent and Research Writer at Prime Business Africa, a Nigerian journalist with experience in development reporting, public affairs, and policy-focused storytelling across Africa

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