Nigeria is looking to generate about $300 million annually from the shea value chain following the Federal Government's approval of a six-month temporary ban on the export of raw shea nuts. The move is aimed at boosting local processing, curbing informal trade, and positioning the country as a global supplier of refined shea products.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, who disclosed this during a multi-stakeholder meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, stressed that the policy is "not anti-trade but pro-value addition," designed to keep local factories running at full capacity while creating jobs and improving rural income.
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Despite producing nearly 40 percent of the world's shea, Nigeria currently accounts for just 1 percent of the $6.5 billion global market. Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, explained that the ban will secure domestic supply, reduce the 90,000 metric tonnes lost annually to informal cross-border trade, and help processors scale beyond their current 50 percent capacity.
With more than 90 percent of shea pickers and processors being women, the policy is also expected to drive gender empowerment, rural job creation, and sustainable livelihoods. The government projects a ten-fold revenue increase by 2027 as Nigeria expands its share in the fast-growing global shea market, estimated to hit $9 billion by 2030.
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