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September 7, 2025 September 7, 2025
By Jane Okeke
The National Association of Shea Products of Nigeria (NASPAN) has applauded the Federal Government’s decision to temporarily halt the export of raw shea nuts, describing the move as a bold and strategic step towards positioning Nigeria as a global leader in the shea industry.
Addressing journalists in Abuja on Friday, NASPAN President, Mohammed Ahmed Kontagora, noted that although the policy came at the peak of the trading season, it was a welcome development capable of strengthening local processing, boosting employment, and enhancing rural economic growth.
“This is a timely intervention by President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima,” Kontagora said. “The decision will help stabilize local prices, formalize trading activities, and provide the needed opportunity to assess the capacity of our local processors.”
He clarified that the ban only applies to the exportation of raw shea nuts and kernels, not shea butter, stressing that real value addition takes place when kernels are processed into butter.
While commending government for its foresight, the NASPAN president appealed for a 90-day grace period for aggregators who had already purchased large volumes of shea nuts worth billions of naira before the ban. He explained that such a window would allow traders to honour existing contractual obligations under regulated conditions.
Kontagora also urged government to build on the momentum by establishing a Shea Marketing Board, providing grants and equipment support for processors, passing the long-awaited National Council on Shea Bill, and integrating shea production into Nigeria’s climate management programmes.
He highlighted NASPAN’s ongoing Shea Parkland Restoration and Afforestation Programme (SPARE), which aims to plant 10 million shea trees nationwide over the next decade.
The association further recommended that the forthcoming NASPAN Biennial Shea Conference in February 2026 serve as a platform for a comprehensive review of the policy.
“Proper engagement and coordination are essential,” Kontagora emphasized. “Our producers and processors must be encouraged to contribute meaningfully to the nation’s economy, rather than discouraged by sudden policy shifts.”
Source: Authorityngr.com | Read the Full Story…
