Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has expressed support for President Bola Tinubu’s decision to halt the export of raw shea nuts.
According to the governor, the move will stimulate production and strengthen the country’s shea value chain.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, AbdulRazaq noted that the directive coincides with the state’s readiness to unveil its 50-tonne shea butter processing plant in Kaiama. The facility is the second largest of its kind in Nigeria and the biggest to be owned by a state government.
He described the project as one of several economic initiatives under his administration, designed to boost job creation and industrial growth.
AbdulRazaq explained that the new factory will open up opportunities for women farmers and pickers in Kwara North, while also improving processing standards and reducing waste.
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“Locating the factory within Kaiama puts the people at the centre of local Shea production, ensures local ownership of benefits, such as job creation, reduced post-harvest losses, and value retention in Kaiama.
“This project exemplifies backwards and forward integration as it combines raw material sourcing, processing, and market access in one locality,” the governor said.
Kwara and Niger states remain major shea nut-producing hubs in Nigeria. In Kwara North alone, more than 250,000 native shea trees grow across 6,000 hectares of land.
President Tinubu had on August 26 announced a six-month suspension of raw shea nut export. The measure, which is subject to review, is expected to discourage informal trade, promote local processing, and help Nigeria tap into an estimated $300 million annual revenue potential in the short term.
