FG extends ban on Shea nut export to boost domestic processing
Federal Government Extends Ban on Shea Nut Exports
By Peter Egwuatu, with agency report
The Federal Government of Nigeria has extended the ban on Shea nut exports for an additional year, aiming to reduce raw commodity shipments and enhance local value addition. The new ban will take effect from February 26, 2026, and will last until February 25, 2027.
President Bola Tinubu emphasized the importance of transitioning the Shea nut industry from primarily exporting raw products to focusing on high-value items, such as Shea butter and its derivatives, which can yield prices up to 20 times higher.
“This extension is intended to strengthen processing capacity within Nigeria, improve livelihoods in Shea-producing communities, and facilitate the growth of Nigerian exports based on value-added products,” the President stated.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the President, indicated that the decision aligns with the government’s industrialization goals under the Renewed Hope Agenda. “This decision highlights the administration’s commitment to advancing industrial development, enhancing domestic value addition, and supporting the objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda,” he said.
Following the announcement of the initial ban in August, Shea nut prices plummeted by one-third. By December, the nuts were trading at approximately 850 naira (63 US cents) per kilogram, according to the Lagos-based commodities exchange AFEX. The production of Shea butter in Nigeria is predominantly managed by smallholders and rural women, particularly in central regions where extremist attacks have disrupted communities.
Additionally, intermediaries responsible for transporting products from smallholders to markets have exited the trade since the ban’s implementation, resulting in lost contracts, according to the National Shea Products Association of Nigeria.
