Nigeria has slammed a six-month ban on the export of raw shea nuts, in what government officials say is a bold step to reposition the country in the multi-billion-dollar global beauty and skincare industry. The embargo, which took effect immediately, is aimed at ensuring more of the nuts are processed locally into shea butter, oil, and other products, rather than being shipped out raw.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, who announced the policy on Tuesday, described it as a strategic shift. According to him, Nigeria must stop playing the role of a mere raw material supplier and start competing as a value-added player. “This is not an anti-trade policy,” he stressed, “it’s a pro-value addition strategy to secure raw materials for our factories, create jobs, and boost rural incomes.”
For many Nigerians, the move hits home. Shea butter—long cherished as a natural skin and hair care staple—is now a global favourite, used in lotions, conditioners, shampoos, and more. Abuja-based dermatologist, Dr. Zainab Bashir, noted that the timing couldn’t be better. “With consumers shifting to nontoxic skincare, demand for shea butter has never been higher. Nigeria has the chance to be a real powerhouse if we process more locally,” she said.
![Image suggestion: Nigerian women collecting shea nuts in a rural community, baskets on the ground]
Nigeria is not alone in this shift. West African neighbours like Ghana, Burkina Faso, and Cote d’Ivoire have already restricted raw shea exports to push local refining. Analysts say this regional momentum could reshape the global shea trade, putting more money back into African economies instead of foreign factories.
Still, concerns remain about how the ban will affect smallholder farmers and women’s cooperatives who collect the nuts each season. Many of them rely on quick sales of raw nuts to traders for their livelihoods. An agribusiness consultant in Abuja cautioned: “If processors don’t have the capacity to buy up the harvest, farmers may be left stranded in the short term. Government support—whether subsidies, credit for processors, or guaranteed purchase schemes—will be critical.”
Industry players are watching closely. Exporters who built markets abroad for raw nuts could face losses, while importers will need to adjust their supply chains. But supporters of the ban argue that this is the price of moving Nigeria away from its long history of raw commodity dependence.
At stake is Nigeria’s place in a global shea industry worth over $2 billion. If the country can quickly expand refining capacity, attract investors, and provide support to rural collectors, it could establish itself as a major value-added supplier. But if processing lags behind policy, the ban risks hurting the very communities it is meant to uplift.
![Image suggestion: Packaged Nigerian-made shea butter products lined up on display shelves]
For now, the six-month review period will be decisive. The government must use the time to strengthen supply chains, support processors, and reassure farmers that their harvests won’t go to waste. Done right, this policy could be the start of Nigeria’s transformation from a raw exporter to a global skincare powerhouse.
