The Federal Government of Nigeria has ordered an immediate nationwide ban on the exportation of wood and allied products, revoking all previously issued licences and permits associated with the trade.
The directive was announced on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, by Alhaji Balarabe Abbas-Lawal, the Minister of Environment, during the 18th meeting of the National Council on Environment (NCE), which is being held in Katsina State under the theme: “Tackling the triple planetary crises: climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution for sustainable development in Nigeria.”
The policy, known as the “Presidential Executive Order on the Prohibition of Exportation of Wood and Allied Products, 2025,” was signed by President Bola Tinubu and takes effect immediately. According to the government, the ban covers the export of wood, charcoal and all allied forestry products.
Speaking to journalists at the council meeting, Minister Lawal explained that Nigeria’s forests are a critical environmental asset that provide essential ecosystem services, including clean air and water, biodiversity support and climate regulation. “Nigeria’s forests are central to environmental sustainability, providing clean air and water, supporting livelihoods, conserving biodiversity, and playing a critical role in reducing the impact of climate change,” he said.
Lawal stressed that the continued export of wood and allied products undermines these benefits and threatens the long-term health of Nigeria’s environment. “The continued export of wood and allied products undermines these benefits and threatens the long-term health of the environment,” he warned.
Under the terms of the executive order, all licences and permits previously issued by any ministry, department or agency for the extraction and export of wood have been suspended and declared invalid with immediate effect.
The directive, published in the Extraordinary Federal Republic of Nigeria Official Gazette No. 180, Vol. 112 of October 16, 2025, invokes Sections 17(2) and 20 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which obligate the state to protect the environment, forests and wildlife, and to prevent the exploitation of natural resources for private gain.
To ensure compliance, the ministry has directed relevant security agencies and government bodies to enforce a full clampdown on illegal logging and related activities nationwide.
Officials at the NCE meeting highlighted that Nigeria has been facing persistent deforestation pressures due to illegal logging, unregulated harvest and commercial export demands that have significantly weakened the country’s forest cover.
Minister Lawal also noted that, although the order was originally slated for announcement in Abuja, the federal government took advantage of the council gathering in Katsina to unveil it to stakeholders from across the federation.
Deputy Governor of Katsina State, Faruk Lawal-Jobe, speaking at the opening of the council meeting, reaffirmed the importance of collaboration between federal and state governments in confronting environmental degradation and climate change. He reiterated Katsina’s historic role in adopting forward-looking policies that influence national approaches.
Observers say the ban signals a significant shift in national environmental policy, reflecting growing concerns over climate change impact, loss of biodiversity and the need to align Nigeria’s natural resource management with global sustainability standards.
Critics of past wood export practices have noted that poor regulation has contributed to high levels of illegal logging and smuggling, degrading forest reserves without adequate reinvestment or reforestation initiatives. The new ban aims to curb those practices and foster a more sustainable forestry sector.
