The Nigerian federal government has enacted an immediate nationwide ban on the export of wood and related products, cancelling all previously issued licenses and permits.
The directive was declared on Wednesday by Environment Minister Balarabe Lawal during the 18th session of the National Council on Environment held in Katsina State.
Lawal stated that the directive, issued under the ‘Presidential Executive Order on the Prohibition of Exportation of Wood and Allied Products, 2025,’ was necessary to combat illegal logging and deforestation nationwide.
“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.
Lawal cautioned that ongoing wood exports pose a risk to these advantages and could undermine the long-term health of the environment.
The directive, issued in the Extraordinary Federal Republic of Nigeria Official Gazette, authorizes the government to protect the environment, forests, and wildlife, as well as to prevent the private exploitation of natural resources.
According to the new policy, security forces and relevant ministries are tasked with implementing a complete crackdown on illegal logging activities across the country.
The ban marks the federal government’s latest significant effort to tackle illegal logging and bolster Nigeria’s climate change adaptation and mitigation measures. The executive order emphasizes that unregulated logging and the commercial export of wood products contradict the country’s constitutional responsibilities.
All licenses and permits previously granted by any ministry, department, or agency for the extraction and export of wood have been suspended and rendered invalid.
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