The Nigerian Federal Government has announced an immediate ban on the export of wood and allied products, including charcoal, while revoking all existing licenses and permits.
Minister of Environment Balarabe Abbas Lawal made the disclosure on Wednesday during the 18th National Council on Environment meeting in Katsina State.
The policy stems from a Presidential Executive Order signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, titled “Presidential Executive Order on the Prohibition of Exportation of Wood and Allied Products, 2025.”
The order, published in the Extraordinary Federal Republic of Nigeria Official Gazette No. 180, Vol. 112 dated October 16, 2025, draws authority from Sections 17(2) and 20 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which mandate the protection of the environment, forests, wildlife, and natural resources from exploitation.
Lawal emphasized that the ban is essential to address rampant illegal logging and deforestation threatening Nigeria's ecosystems.
“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 stated, warning that unchecked wood exports endanger these vital benefits and the nation's long-term ecological health.
The executive order prohibits illegal logging nationwide and directs security agencies, relevant ministries, and stakeholders to enforce a strict clampdown on violators.
This move builds on prior efforts to curb unsustainable practices, amid Nigeria's ongoing struggle with rapid forest loss driven by commercial logging, agricultural expansion, and fuelwood demand.
The policy aims to strengthen climate resilience and preserve remaining forest cover for future generations.
