In a significant move to boost its agro-industrial sector, the Nigerian president has imposed a six-month temporary ban on the export of raw shea nuts.
The directive, announced on Wednesday by President Bola Tinubu, aims to shift the country’s focus from exporting raw commodities to adding value through local processing.
“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% of pickers are women.” President Tinubu noted.
According to the government, the temporary suspension will ensure a stable supply of raw materials for domestic processing factories, which currently operate at significantly low capacity.
“Nigeria produces nearly 40% of the global shea product, yet we account for only 1% of the $6.5 billion market share.” President Tinubu said, highlighting the vast economic potential that the country is currently forfeiting.
Millions of rural women across the African “Shea Belt” (countries like Nigeria, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Mali, and others) are the primary collectors and processors of shea nuts.
The shea industry has long been known as “women’s gold” because it provides women with a vital source of independent income.
Large multinational companies in the cosmetics, food, and pharmaceutical industries are major beneficiaries of the shea trade. They use shea butter as a key ingredient in products like moisturizers, shampoos, chocolate, and medicinal ointments.
The six-month ban is subject to review upon its expiration, with the government indicating that its primary focus is to secure domestic supply, enable processors to operate at full capacity, and lay a foundation for Nigeria to transition into a significant player in the high-value derivatives market.
