Salid Agriculture unveils Africa’s largest shea butter facility in Niger State to meet global demand
This move is a strategic step toward enhancing Nigeria’s position as the leading shea butter exporter in Africa and globally, meeting the growing worldwide demand for this valuable natural product.
NIGERIA – Salid Agriculture Nigeria Limited has officially opened Africa’s largest shea butter processing facility in Kudu, Mokwa Local Government Area, Niger State.
The state-of-the-art facility has an annual processing capacity of 30,000 metric tonnes, positioning Niger State as a key global hub for shea production.
The inauguration was conducted by Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, who highlighted the project’s critical role in harnessing natural resources to generate employment and drive economic prosperity.
The state government has allocated 10,000 hectares for shea tree cultivation to secure a sustainable raw material supply.
In addition, a N2 billion(USD 1.3 million) memorandum of understanding was signed between Salid Agriculture and Niger Foods to facilitate the direct procurement of shea nuts, primarily from women and youth collectives organized into cooperatives.
This partnership aims to empower local communities and promote grassroots employment.
Ali Saidu, CEO of Salid Agriculture, announced plans to scale the plant’s capacity to process 400 metric tonnes per day and to establish a cutting-edge shea butter refinery in subsequent phases.
Saidu stated, “The company is working in partnership with GIZ and DFID through the PROPCOM MAIKAIFI project to organise local shea nut pickers, mainly women, into structured cooperatives, promoting grassroots employment.”
The company is also committed to long-term sustainability by preserving biodiversity and supporting community development projects, including rural electrification and education initiatives.
Nigeria currently accounts for about 60% of global shea nut production, but has lacked such large-scale industrial shea butter processing facilities until now.
According to the Executive Director of Salid Agriculture, the new plant symbolizes a milestone in the company’s dedication to advancing local processing capabilities to meet rising global demand.
The project was sponsored by the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), which also announced intentions to facilitate the establishment of additional processing plants across Nigeria.
Industry experts estimate that with increased local processing capacity like this, Nigeria could generate up to USD 700 million annually from the shea sector, vastly improving on the country’s 2023 export revenue from shea products, which was only USD 14.6 million.
Traditional leaders, including Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, have praised the initiative while cautioning on the importance of environmental protection, urging care in tree management to prevent indiscriminate felling.
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