President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has placed a six-month ban on the export of raw shea nuts as part of a bold move to strengthen Nigeria’s shea industry and create more local jobs.

The announcement was made by Vice President Kashim Shettima during a multi-stakeholder meeting in Abuja. He explained that the temporary ban—subject to review—will help channel raw shea into Nigerian factories, allowing them to run at full capacity and add value before export.

“This is not an anti-trade policy but a pro-value addition policy,” Shettima said. “Nigeria produces nearly 40% of global shea, yet we earn only 1% of the $6.5 billion global shea market. That is unacceptable.”

The initiative aims to position Nigeria as a leading global supplier of refined shea butter, oil, and derivatives, with the potential to generate $300 million annually in the short term and significantly more by 2027.

Shettima also revealed that Nigeria has reached agreements with Brazil to fast-track market access for Nigerian shea products within three months, further boosting trade opportunities.

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, described the ban as “long overdue.” He noted that despite producing around 350,000 metric tonnes annually across 30 states—with the potential to hit 900,000 tonnes—local processors currently operate at only 35–50% capacity.

By focusing on processing within Nigeria, the government hopes to drive industrialisation, empower rural communities, support women (who make up a large portion of the shea sector workforce), and expand export earnings.