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The Federal Government has imposed a nationwide ban on the export of wood and allied products, revoking all previously issued licences and permits.
The announcement was made on Wednesday, December 17, by the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, during the 18th meeting of the National Council on Environment held in Katsina State.
Lawal explained that the directive, contained in a Presidential Executive Order titled “Presidential Executive Order on the Prohibition of Exportation of Wood and Allied Products, 2025,” was introduced to curb illegal logging and widespread deforestation across the country.
“Nigeria’s forests are central to environmental sustainability, providing clean air and water, supporting livelihoods, conserving biodiversity, and mitigating the effects of climate change,” the minister said.
He warned that the continued exportation of wood poses a serious threat to these benefits and undermines the long-term health of the environment.
The Executive Order, published in the Extraordinary Federal Republic of Nigeria Official Gazette No. 180, Vol. 112 of October 16, 2025, is anchored on Sections 17(2) and 20 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which mandate the state to protect the environment, forests, and wildlife, and to prevent the exploitation of natural resources for private gain.
Under the new policy, security agencies and relevant ministries have been directed to enforce a total clampdown on illegal logging activities nationwide.
