• Nigeria extends raw shea nut export ban to 2027

• Move aims to boost domestic processing, value-added exports

• Nigeria produces 40% of shea, captures 1% market value

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has extended the ban on raw shea nut exports for one year, presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga said on Wednesday, Feb. 25. The measure takes effect on Feb. 26 and will run until the end of February 2027, extending a six-month restriction first introduced in August 2025.

“The ban aims to boost domestic processing capacity, improve livelihoods in shea-producing communities and promote Nigerian value-added exports,” Onanuga said. “The federal government encourages the local processing of shea nuts into butter, which sells for 10 to 20 times the price of raw nuts.”

He added that under the extension, the government has adopted an export framework developed by the Nigeria Commodities Exchange (NCX) and withdrawn exemptions that previously allowed direct exports of raw shea nuts.

“The president has directed that any surplus raw shea nuts be exported exclusively through the NCX framework, in line with approved guidelines,” Onanuga said. “He has also asked the Ministry of Finance to open access to a dedicated NESS support facility, enabling the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment to roll out a financing scheme to strengthen production and processing capacity.”

A processing segment seeking to gain ground in the value chain

The National Shea Products Association of Nigeria (NASPAN) has yet to respond to the latest measure. After the initial restriction, the association requested a 90-day grace period before implementation, arguing that the abrupt decision created difficulties for collectors. The government, seeking to accelerate the sector’s industrialisation, declined the request.

Nigeria is the world’s leading shea producer, with annual output estimated at between 350,000 and 500,000 tonnes. However, it captures only a small share of the value generated along the value chain.

“Nigeria produces nearly 40% of global shea products, but accounts for just 1% of the $6.5 billion market. This is unacceptable,” Vice President Kashim Shettima said in August 2025 after the previous suspension was announced. “We expect to generate about $300 million per year in the short term, and by 2027 that figure could increase tenfold.”

Analysts will be watching the impact of the decision on prices in the coming days. The move follows a broader regional trend in West Africa, where several producing countries have suspended or sharply restricted raw shea nut exports since 2024.

Burkina Faso imposed a ban in September 2024, followed by Mali in October. Côte d’Ivoire and Togo halted exports of shea kernels in January and April 2025, respectively. Ghana opted for a phased approach, announcing in July 2025 that it would gradually ban raw shea exports by 2026 rather than impose an immediate embargo.

Espoir Olodo