By Muhammad Mamman
Vice President Kashim Shettima has announced an immediate ban on the export of raw shea nuts, as part of a sweeping strategy to strengthen Nigeria’s shea value chain and position the country as a global leader in refined shea products.
Speaking at a high-level stakeholder meeting at the Presidential Villa on Tuesday, Shettima conveyed President Bola Tinubu’s directive, urging the Ministry of Finance and other relevant agencies to enforce the policy without delay.
Describing the move as “not an anti-trade policy, but a pro-value addition policy,” Shettima said the measure would ensure local factories have access to raw materials, enabling industries to run at full capacity, create jobs, and boost rural incomes.
“Nigeria produces nearly 40% of the world’s shea nuts, yet we hold just 1% of the $6.5 billion global market share. This is unacceptable,” he said. “Our immediate target is $300 million in annual earnings, with a tenfold increase projected by 2027.”
The Vice President stressed that the government is not shutting down opportunities but opening better ones, noting that Nigeria is set to secure access for its shea butter and oil in the Brazilian market within three months following agreements reached during President Tinubu’s visit to Brazil.
“This policy will transform Nigeria from a raw shea nut exporter into a global supplier of refined shea butter, oil, and other derivatives,” he added. “Today, we are planting the seeds of an industry that will bear fruit for decades—for our women, our economy, and Nigeria’s standing in global trade.”
