The FEDERAL Government has assured stakeholders in the shea industry that it will review the ban on raw shea nut exports, citing concerns about its effects on producers, exporters, and foreign exchange earnings.
 
Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, gave the assurance yesterday in Abuja during a Stakeholders’ Validation Session on the Raw Shea Nut Export Ban in Nigeria.
 The government had earlier announced a six-month temporary ban on the export of raw shea nuts on August 26, 2025.
 
The measure was introduced to promote local processing, encourage value addition, and reduce the export of unprocessed raw materials, with the broader goal of transforming Nigeria into a global hub for refined shea products.
 Oduwole said that the ministry would brief President Bola Tinubu objectively after consultations with stakeholders across Nigeria’s Shea value chain.
 
She said that the objective assessment would guide a decision on whether the ban on Shea nut exports should be extended immediately or deferred.
 According to her, the government recognises the right of citizens to earn a living and contribute to national development, adding that all inputs would be carefully reviewed and consolidated.
 
She said the ministry received formal submissions from the umbrella association and held engagement sessions attended by various industry representatives.
 She said the submissions were reproduced and circulated at the meeting to promote transparency and shared understanding.
 
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, said the meeting aimed to review the recent ban objectively, stressing the need for verified facts and transparency.
 Kyari noted that government decisions were made to protect jobs and encourage local value addition, adding that policies should be assessed holistically based on evidence and measurable impact.