The Federal Government has declared that the long-standing practice of exporting raw shea nuts while importing finished shea products must end, signalling a major shift in the country’s agricultural and industrial policy.
The position was reaffirmed by the Minister of State for Industry, John Enoh, who spoke at the Shea 2026: Beyond Borders conference in Accra on Monday. He said Nigeria’s future in the sector lies in industrialisation, value addition, and regional integration rather than raw commodity exports.
The conference, organised by the Global Shea Alliance, brought together governments, investors, and development partners to discuss sustainability, trade, and growth across the global shea value chain.
According to a statement by Marion Moon, Nigeria attended the event as Guest of Honour alongside senior officials including the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, and other government representatives.
Enoh described the government’s strategy as a deliberate shift from exporting raw materials to expanding local processing capacity, creating jobs, and improving Nigeria’s participation in global markets.
He noted that the policy is backed by the administration’s broader industrial framework, which includes measures to strengthen domestic processing, attract investment, and improve market systems.
In August 2025, the government introduced a six-month ban on the export of raw shea nuts under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, aimed at encouraging local processing and capturing more value from the global market.
Nigeria is a major producer of shea nuts, accounting for an estimated 350,000 to 500,000 tonnes annually—about 40 percent of global supply. However, it currently earns only a small fraction of the $6.5 billion global shea market due to the export of raw rather than processed products.
Processed shea butter, used widely in cosmetics, food, and pharmaceuticals, sells for significantly higher value than raw nuts, a gap the government says has long deprived Nigeria of potential revenue and industrial growth.
The new policy direction is expected to reposition Nigeria as a major player in shea processing and global value-added trade.
