Nigeria is positioning itself to become a global leader in the shea industry following President Bola Tinubu’s recent decision to temporarily suspend the export of raw shea, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said on Tuesday.
The announcement was made at the 20th Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria Northern Zonal Accountants’ Conference in Minna, where the Minister was represented by the Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria, Mallam Jibrin Baba Ndace.
“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 move as both “bold and strategic,” the minister said the suspension would help transform Nigeria’s role in the global shea supply chain.
“By insisting that more of our shea be processed locally, the president is ensuring that Nigeria, which accounts for over 50 per cent 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 said.
