By Onilede Titi Faith
Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has praised President Bola Tinubu’s decision to ban the export of raw shea nuts, describing it as a game-changing policy that will deepen local processing and strengthen the shea value chain.
In a statement on Wednesday, the governor said the move coincides with Kwara’s plan to commission a 50-tonne shea butter processing factory in Kaiama, the second largest in Nigeria and the biggest owned by any state government.
AbdulRazaq explained that the factory was designed to unlock the economic potential of Kwara North, home to vast shea resources, by creating jobs for farmers, women pickers, and processors.
“The factory puts the people at the centre of shea production, ensuring job creation, reduced post-harvest losses, and value retention in Kaiama.
“It represents backward and forward integration as it combines raw material sourcing, processing, and market access in one locality,” he said.
He added that Tinubu’s directive would improve product quality, expand market opportunities, and provide new livelihoods across the shea belt, which stretches through Kwara and Niger states.
Kwara North alone hosts more than 250,000 shea trees across 6,000 hectares, making it one of Nigeria’s largest shea clusters.
President Tinubu had on August 26 announced a six-month ban on the export of raw shea nuts, subject to review.
The measure is aimed at curbing informal trade, boosting local processing, and positioning Nigeria’s shea industry to generate an estimated $300 million annually in the short term.
