On Tuesday, August 26, 2025, President Bola Tinubu announced a six-month ban on raw shea nut exports to strengthen Nigeria’s shea value chain, create jobs, and enhance economic returns for farmers, particularly women, who make up 95% of shea pickers, as stated in a post on his official X handle on Wednesday (Web:0, Post:0). The policy, recommended by the Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Unit, aims to curb informal trade, boost domestic processing, and capture a larger share of the $6.5 billion global shea market, where Nigeria, despite producing 40% of global supply, earns less than 1% (Vanguard, ThisDay). Tinubu projected the move could generate $300 million annually in the short term.
The President tasked Vice President Kashim Shettima with collaborating with stakeholders to expand processing capacity, targeting new markets like Brazil (Web:0). Nigeria’s shea sector, valued at ₦1.2 trillion domestically, employs over 2 million people, with women dominating harvesting and primary processing (NBS, 2024). The ban addresses losses from raw exports, which fetched $100 million in 2024 compared to $2.6 billion potential for processed shea (NEPC). X posts from @NGRPresident (August 27, 2025) emphasized the policy’s focus on women’s empowerment, while @Naija_Activist noted 62% public support but urged transparency to avoid elite capture (Afrobarometer, 2025). The move aligns with Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to shift from raw material exports to value-added production (Leadership.ng).
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