The National Association of Shea Products of Nigeria (NASPAN) has cautioned that the Federal Government’s recent temporary suspension of raw shea nut exports could result in large-scale wastage and financial setbacks if not carefully implemented.

The export ban, announced on August 26, 2025, is aimed at encouraging value addition, tackling smuggling, and boosting rural economic growth.

Speaking in Abuja on Friday, NASPAN President, Mohammed Kontagora, welcomed the initiative as a strategic move to enhance local processing and create jobs. However, he voiced concerns over the abrupt nature of the policy, which has left aggregators with vast stocks of shea nuts valued at billions of naira.

“While our members recognize the opportunities this policy presents, the sudden announcement has caused serious disruptions for aggregators,” Kontagora stated.

To ease the transition, the association has appealed for a 90-day window to allow traders and aggregators to fulfill existing export contracts worth billions. Kontagora further suggested that aggregators with verifiable contracts signed before the policy shift should be permitted to complete their transactions under regulated guidelines.

Despite the concerns, NASPAN views the ban as a transformative step in managing shea resources, noting that Nigeria accounts for nearly 58 percent of the world’s shea trees. The policy, if effectively implemented, could strengthen Nigeria’s position in the global market, with projections of generating about $300 million annually in the short term.

To maximize the benefits, NASPAN has proposed several measures, including the establishment of a Shea Marketing Board to regulate pricing and support local processors, as well as grants to enhance domestic processing capacity.

Other recommendations include passing the National Council on Shea Bill to provide a stronger legal framework for industry growth, improving border security to curb smuggling, and integrating shea into climate management initiatives to ensure sustainability and environmental conservation.