President Bola Tinubu has instituted a six-month temporary ban on the export of raw shea nuts from Nigeria, effective immediately. This directive, first announced by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, and further elaborated upon by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, aims to significantly bolster Nigeria's shea value chain.

The core objectives behind this measure are multifaceted: to promote local processing, enhance value addition within the country, capture a higher share of export revenue, and stabilize the shea sector. In the short term, this strategic move is projected to generate approximately $300 million annually. The ban is part of a broader national and regional strategy to fortify agro-industrial bases and increase export earnings by prioritizing processed products over raw materials. This policy mirrors similar efforts observed in other West African nations, such as Ghana and Burkina Faso, where phased or indefinite bans on raw shea nut exports have been implemented to boost domestic processing capabilities and foster job creation within the industry.

Vice-President Shettima clarified that this is not an anti-trade policy but a proactive step designed to boost rural incomes and create employment opportunities. By enabling local industries to operate at full capacity, Nigeria aims to transform into a global supplier of refined shea products. Shettima emphasized that the ban aligns with key national goals of industrialization, rural transformation, gender empowerment, and expanding Nigeria’s global trade footprint.

Highlighting the current disparity, the Vice-President noted that despite Nigeria producing nearly 40% of the global shea product, it accounts for a mere 1% of the total $6.5 billion market share, a situation he deemed unacceptable. The short-term goal is to achieve annual earnings of around $300 million, with an ambitious target of a ten-fold increase by 2027. This decision, he added, represents a collective commitment from both sub-national and federal governments towards economic transformation in the national interest.

Further demonstrating Nigeria's commitment to the shea sector, Shettima revealed that during President Tinubu's recent visit to Brazil, an agreement was reached to facilitate prioritized access for Nigerian shea butter and oil into the Brazilian market. This crucial process is anticipated to be finalized within the next three months.

The Vice-President profoundly stressed that the shea export ban is fundamentally about protecting the livelihoods, dignity, and opportunities for millions of Nigerian women. He explained that this policy opens better doors for women, strengthens the economy, and improves Nigeria’s standing in global trade. This perspective is reinforced by insights from Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), who in March 2024, stated that over 16 million women in West Africa derive their living from farming and processing shea nuts, collectively earning approximately $237 million in direct income. Okonjo-Iweala also detailed that 85 percent of all shea exports serve as cocoa butter equivalents, while 15 percent are utilized in cosmetics. The cosmetics shea butter market is currently valued at over $600 million and is projected to reach about $850 million by the end of 2027, underscoring the significant potential for value-added products.