Nigeria Bans Raw Shea Nut Exports to Boost Local Processing

The Government of Nigeria implemented a six-month ban on raw shea nut exports in late August 2025. The policy aims to incentivize domestic butter production and allow the country to capture a fifth of the global shea market's value by 2030.

While intended to increase national profits, the ban caused a collapse in nut prices because domestic processing capacity cannot meet the supply. This price drop has severely reduced incomes for hundreds of thousands of women in regions such as Niger state, who rely on the harvest to pay for food and education.

Large-scale processors have benefited from the shift. Salid Agriculture Nigeria Limited, which operates Africa's largest shea butter production facility in Kudu, reported lower raw material costs and increased interest from suppliers. The National Association of Shea Products of Nigeria supports the strategic shift but has requested government relief for traders holding unsold stocks.

Agricultural policy advisor Kingsley Uzoma defended the measure as a necessary reform to break a cycle of poverty. He stated the policy is designed to empower women and secure Nigeria's rightful place in the global market.