My people, let me gist you what is happening in Nigeria now. Government just talk say nobody fit carry raw shea nut go outside country for six months. At first when I hear am, I no understand. But when I look well, e get why dem do am. For many years now, na our farmers dey gather shea nut from bush. We dey sell am like that, raw. Other countries go buy am cheap, carry go their place, turn am to shea butter, cream, soap and all those fine-fine products. After that, na dem go make the big money. We wey get the shea tree, we no dey see the better profit. Government now talk say “enough is enough.” If we process our shea nut here for Nigeria, we go get more money, we go create work for our people, and farmers go smile well. Dem even talk say this plan fit give us $300 million in short time, and maybe up to $3 billion by 2027. Abeg, no be better money be that? This move sweet me because e mean say women wey dey do local shea butter fit gain more. Many of them dey hustle with small pot and firewood, making butter for market. If we get big factory and good support, dem fit produce plenty, sell outside and make better living. Imagine say our shea butter dey shelves for London or America with “Made in Nigeria” bold for body. No be pride? But to tell ourselves truth, e no go easy like that. Some people dey fear say we never ready. We no get enough factory, we no get stable light, and sometimes government talk big plan but e no reach ground. If buyers no dey quick, farmers fit suffer because nut go waste. Still, me I feel say this ban na chance for us. Nigeria no suppose remain country wey dey always sell raw things cheap. We fit add value, we fit process, we fit own our product from beginning to end. Even if challenge dey, at least make we try. So my people, that na the trending news: no more export of raw shea nut for now. Government dey push us to do am here, create job, and keep money inside our land. Some people clap hand for the move, some people dey doubt. But I ask you, if we no start today, when we go start? Make we no always remain the supplier of raw material while another person dey enjoy the big profit. This one na our time to shine. What una think? This shea nut matter fit change our story, or na just another government talk wey no go last?
