The Federal Government of Nigeria has imposed an immediate nationwide ban on the export of wood and allied products, revoking all previously issued licences and permits. This decision was announced by the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, during the 18th meeting of the National Council on Environment in Katsina State.
The ban is aimed at curbing illegal logging and deforestation, which pose significant threats to Nigeria’s environmental sustainability. The country’s forests provide essential ecosystem services, including clean air and water, livelihoods, biodiversity conservation, and climate change mitigation.
The Presidential Executive Order, titled “Presidential Executive Order on the Prohibition of Exportation of Wood and Allied Products, 2025”, was published in the Extraordinary Federal Republic of Nigeria Official Gazette No. 180, Vol. 112 of 16 October 2025. It relies on Sections 17(2) and 20 of the 1999 Constitution, which mandate the state to protect the environment, forests, and wildlife.
Security agencies and relevant ministries have been directed to enforce the ban and clamp down on illegal logging activities nationwide. The government has not yet outlined specific enforcement mechanisms or penalties, but emphasizes the need for cooperation to address environmental challenges.
