The Federal Government has imposed an immediate nationwide ban on the export of wood and related products, cancelling all previously issued licences and permits.
The announcement was made on Wednesday by the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, during the 18th meeting of the National Council on Environment in Katsina State.
The ban, outlined in the Presidential Executive Order on the Prohibition of Exportation of Wood and Allied Products, 2025, is intended to curb illegal logging and deforestation across the country.
“Nigeria’s forests are crucial for environmental sustainability. They provide clean air and water, support livelihoods, conserve biodiversity, and help mitigate climate change,” Lawal said. He warned that continued wood exports put these benefits and the nation’s environmental health at risk.
Under the new policy, security agencies and relevant government ministries have been tasked with enforcing a strict crackdown on illegal logging activities nationwide
