Nigeria is set to reposition itself as a global leader in the shea industry following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s temporary suspension of raw shea exports, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has said.
Idris, represented by the Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria, Mallam Jibrin Baba Ndace, made the disclosure on Tuesday at the 20th Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) Northern Zonal Accountants’ Conference in Minna.
“President Bola Tinubu’s recent temporary suspension of raw shea exports is not a mere policy experiment but a bold and forward-looking measure aimed at unlocking the full potential of our rural economy,” Idris said in a statement signed by his media aide, Rabiu Ibrahim.
Describing the decision as “bold and strategic,” he explained that the move would transform Nigeria’s position in the global shea value chain.
“By insisting that more of our shea be processed locally, the president is ensuring that Nigeria, which accounts for over 50 percent of the world’s shea production, does not remain a supplier of raw materials but becomes a global leader in high-value shea products,” he added.
According to the statement, Niger State — a major hub for shea production — stands to benefit significantly from the policy. Idris said the suspension would stimulate local investment, drive technology transfer, and expand processing capacity, while also creating jobs for youth and women in rural communities, boosting foreign exchange earnings, and deepening Nigeria’s role in global value chains.
He commended the National Shea Products Association of Nigeria for backing the policy and reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for the sector to thrive.
“The Federal Government is providing the enabling environment to make it a reality,” he said.
The initiative, Idris noted, forms part of the Tinubu administration’s broader economic renewal agenda, centred on inclusivity, accountability, and national re-orientation. He stressed the importance of ethical leadership and accountability, which he described as “the cornerstone of every thriving society.”
Citing progress under the Renewed Hope Agenda, Idris pointed to fiscal discipline, digital transformation, infrastructure expansion, and youth empowerment. He referenced projects such as the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Superhighway, the Badagry–Sokoto Superhighway, and the rehabilitation of the Eastern rail corridor as examples of equitable development efforts.
On fiscal transparency, he highlighted the Treasury Single Account and the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System, alongside Nigeria’s recent improvement on Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index — from 145th in 2023 to 140th in 2024.
In a related development, Vice President Kashim Shettima announced in August that the President had approved a six-month suspension of raw shea exports to curb informal trade and support domestic processors.
“This is not an anti-trade policy; it is a pro-value addition policy,” Shettima said at a multi-stakeholder meeting in Abuja. “Our objective is to ensure local factories have sufficient raw materials, operate at full capacity, and create employment opportunities. Nigeria produces nearly 40 percent of the world’s shea, yet captures only 1 percent of the $6.5bn global market — that is simply unacceptable.”
The Vice President added that the initiative, which could generate up to $300 million annually in the short term, aims to establish Nigeria as a leading global supplier of refined shea butter, oil, and related products, while promoting industrialisation, rural development, gender empowerment, and expanded trade opportunities.
