Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has welcomed President Bola Tinubu's ban on the exportation of raw shea nuts, describing it as a strategic move to boost local processing and strengthen the domestic value chain of the cash crop.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the governor said the directive aligns with Kwara's economic development goals, particularly as the state prepares to commission its 50-tonne shea processing factory in Kaiama.

The facility, the second largest in Nigeria and the biggest owned by a state government, is set to become a major hub for shea butter production.

AbdulRazaq described the plant as one of his administration's key economic initiatives, aimed at driving industrialisation and rural empowerment.

He noted that the presidential ban would stimulate local production, improve product quality, and create employment opportunities across the shea value chain.

The Kaiama factory is expected to generate significant economic activity in Kwara North, providing livelihoods for thousands of women farmers, collectors, and processors in the region.

"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, among others, are the hearts of Shea nut trees in Nigeria.

Kwara North alone is credited with over 250,000 native and producing trees spread across 6,000 hectares of land.

On August 26, Tinubu placed a six-month temporary ban on the export of raw shea nut to curb informal trade, boost local processing, protect and grow Nigeria's shea industry.

The ban was subject to review upon expiration and was specifically aimed at boosting Nigeria's shea value chain to generate around $300 million annually in the short term.