NASPAN President Mohammed Ahmed Kontagora on Thursday, September 17th visited the Customs Headquarters to lodge formal complaint over the seizure of Shea Butter meant for Export to Tanzania through Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport. Official Export Prohitive list was given and Shea Butter is not on it. however efforts still on to get the authority for the seizure.

Also on Friday, September the Hon Min. of State Industry received NASPAN President on a familiarization visit after election and before inauguration which is scheduled for next week. The President solicited for continued support of the Ministry and urged the Federal Government to encourage the local Shea Butter processing factories by banning export of raw shea nuts illegal and encourage foreign Companies set up Shea Processing plants instead of sourcing raw materials only.

He also urged the Federal Government to partner with State Governments to support to the Shea Industry through their various Ministries of Commerce & Industry and Agriculture & Rural Development as well as halt the problems of over taxation in some States.

• Kebbi Govt secures $70m World Bank Grant to strengthen girl child Education – BaguduApril 17, 2021
• Kebbi Deputy Governor State Receives State Taskforce Team On ImmunizationApril 14, 2021
• Kebbi State Govt Signs MoU With Max Airline To Promote Air TransportationApril 13, 2021
• Banditry: Kebbi Govt committed to protection of lives and properties, Bagudu vowsApril 11, 2021
• Kebbi Deputy Governor Receives HYPADEC team On Courtesy Visit, Assures them Of State Govt. SupportApril 9, 2021

He commended efforts of some Agencies particularly NEPC, RMRDC, NIFOR and urged for more support in terms of capacity building & training rural women, equipment and establishing processing centers.among others.

In her remarks, the Hon. Minister of State, FMITI Ambassador Hajiya
Maryam Katagun congratulated the President and his team on their election and urged them to liaise with various departments in the Ministry to move the sector forward.

She commended NEPC for efforts in training women groups on processing of Standard and Quality Shea nut / butter especially the recent trainings in Ningi, Bauchi State, Shaki in Oyo and Kaiama in Kwara State. She promised that through the Office of the Vice President, the MSME programmes on shared facility captured Shea in the phase programmes.

Assured NASPAN that after inauguration she will endorse the work plan to be presented for proper implementation in any area that requires the Ministry’s support.
Deputy Director Commodity Produce Inspectorate Alh Ahmed Goni briefed the Minister on Activities of the Ministries on Shea emphasizing that the Ministry embarked on Shea Policy Documents last year but due to circumstances of the Covid-19 the stakeholders haven’t been invited to validate it and already in the 4th Quarter programmes which they hoped will be held soon.

In the same development, the President visited the Executive Director of NEPC Mr Segun Awolowo in his office on Friday, September 18,2020 where he expressed appreciation for high level support by NEPC to develop the Shea Industry and urged them to open up more Export markets for members on processed Shea Butter and value addition products to explore.

Responding, the Executive Director NEPC responded by tasking NASPAN to embark on Data Collection of Shea value chain operators as accurate Data is key for planning and developmental purposes. 
NASPAN President was accompanied by Assistant Secretary General Ibrahim Maliki

Abubakar Bagudu Dallatun Kalgo
National Publicity Secretary)PRO.