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 in Katsina State.
Lawal explained that the directive, contained in the Presidential Executive Order on the Prohibition of Exportation of Wood and Allied Products, 2025, was necessary to curb illegal logging and deforestation.
“Nigeria’s forests are central to environmental sustainability, providing clean air and water, supporting livelihoods, conserving biodiversity, and mitigating the effects of climate change,” he said, warning that continued exportation threatens these benefits and the long‑term health of the environment.
The 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 empower the state to protect the environment, forests, and wildlife, and prevent exploitation of natural resources for private gain.
Under the new policy, security agencies and relevant ministries are mandated to enforce a total clampdown on illegal logging activities nationwide.
The government says the ban is part of broader efforts to safeguard Nigeria’s ecological balance, preserve biodiversity, and ensure sustainable use of natural resources in line with global climate commitments.
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