The Federal Government has announced it will review the ban on raw shea nut exports following concerns raised by stakeholders regarding its impact on producers, exporters, and foreign exchange earnings. The initial ban was implemented on August 26, 2025.

Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, gave the assurance on Thursday in Abuja during a Stakeholders’ Validation Session on the Raw Shea Nut Export Ban in Nigeria. The review aims to determine whether the export ban should be extended immediately or deferred, and will be based on consultations with stakeholders across the shea value chain. Oduwole emphasized the government’s recognition of citizens’ right to earn a livelihood and contribute to national development, assuring that all submissions would be thoroughly examined.

The ministry has received formal submissions from the umbrella association and convened engagement sessions with various industry representatives. These submissions were reproduced and circulated at the meeting to enhance transparency and ensure a shared understanding among participants.

President Tinubu approved the initial six-month temporary ban on raw shea nut exports in August 2025, with the intention to curb informal trade, boost local processing, and strengthen Nigeria’s shea industry. It was noted that although Nigeria accounts for nearly 40% of global shea production, it captures only about 1% of the $6.5 billion global market.

With the initial six-month period now concluded, the Federal Government is expected to announce its decision on the policy. Oduwole mentioned that relevant departments within the ministry have worked collaboratively on the matter, and that she personally reviewed the submissions internally ahead of wider consultations.

The engagement included large and small-scale processors, exporters, aggregators, and rural women involved in the shea value chain. Enoh pointed to available data indicating improvements in processing capacity following earlier policy interventions, stressing that policy consistency is critical for sustaining investor confidence and industrial growth.

Industry stakeholders have expressed mixed reactions to the temporary suspension of raw shea nut exports. Former National President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) and Chairman of the Alliance for Economic Research and Ethics Ltd/Gte, Hon. Dele Kelvin Oye, had called on the Federal Government to clarify its policy direction on shea nut industrialisation.