Africa’s Largest Shea Butter Refinery Opens In Niger State

Salid Agriculture Nigeria Limited has inaugurated a 30,000-metric-tonne-per-annum shea butter processing facility in Kudu, Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State, in a strategic move to tap into the surging global demand for the commodity and strengthen Nigeria’s agro-industrial base.

The state governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, who performed the inauguration, hailed the project as a milestone in positioning Niger State as a global hub for shea production. He disclosed that the government has allocated 10,000 hectares for shea tree cultivation to ensure steady raw material supply, while a ₦2 billion Memorandum of Understanding between Niger Foods and Salid Agriculture would create direct employment for women and youths engaged in shea nut harvesting and supply.

“This facility heralds a new era where our natural resources are transformed into economic prosperity and job creation,” Bago said.

Salid Agriculture’s Chief Executive Officer, Ali Saidu, stated that the plant — the largest of its kind in Africa — plans to expand its processing capacity to 400 metric tonnes per day and develop a modern shea butter refinery. He stressed the company’s commitment to sustainable sourcing, biodiversity preservation, and community empowerment, noting its partnership with GIZ and DFID’s PROPCOM MAIKAIFI project to organise mostly female shea nut pickers into structured cooperatives.

Executive Director, Daniel Alabi, described the plant as a testament to resilience and pledged ongoing corporate social responsibility projects, including rural electrification, girl-child education, and environmental conservation.

Chief Executive Officer of NEXIM Bank, Abba Bello, whose institution financed the project, remarked that although Nigeria accounts for 60 per cent of global shea nut output, large-scale industrial processing capacity had been lacking until now. He revealed plans to establish four additional processing plants nationwide.

The Etsu Nupe and Chairman of the Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, commended the governor’s agricultural drive but urged against indiscriminate tree felling.