Nigeria Insists On Shea Export Ban To Drive Local Processing

Nigeria has reaffirmed its decision to restrict the export of raw shea nuts, insisting the policy is aimed at boosting local processing, increasing export earnings and strengthening Africa’s position in the global shea value chain.

The federal government restated this position through the minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, John Owan Enoh, at the just-concluded 18th Annual Conference of the Global Shea Alliance in Accra, Ghana.

He told the stakeholders gathered at the conference that the federal government would not reverse the policy.

According to him, Nigeria’s focus is now on moving away from the export of raw commodities toward domestic processing and industrial development.

“Nigeria produces a significant share of the world’s shea nuts, but for too long, we have earned far less than the true value of what we produce. That is changing,” he said.

The government had, in August 2025, imposed a six-month restriction on the export of raw shea nuts, which it later extended for another year in February 2026, as part of efforts to encourage local value addition.

In a statement issued to journalists in Abuja yesterday, Enoh said the policy was already yielding results through increased local processing, improved returns for farmers and rising investor interest in the sector.

He noted that women, who make up the majority of workers in the shea value chain, would benefit more from improved local processing and stronger market structures.

The conference was attended by Ghana’s Vice President, Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, alongside government officials, investors and private sector operators from across Africa.

While defending the restriction, Enoh said Nigeria was working with other African countries to strengthen regional cooperation in agro-processing, trade and industrial development.

“The continued expansion of the global shea market presents Africa with a unique opportunity to capture greater value,” he said, adding that Nigeria intends to become a major hub for shea processing and innovation.

The Nigerian delegation included the minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, as well as representatives of financial institutions and investment agencies.

During the visit, the delegation held bilateral discussions with Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama on regional trade partnerships, agro-industrial development and backward integration within the African shea industry.