The Federal Government of Nigeria has officially prohibited the exportation of wood, charcoal, and allied products through a new Presidential Executive Order signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The order, titled Presidential Executive Order on the Prohibition of Exportation of Wood and Allied Products, 2025, was signed by the President and gazetted on October 16, 2025. It was formally unveiled on December 17, 2025, by the Minister of Environment, Alhaji Balarabe Abbas Lawal, during the 18th National Council on Environment meeting in Katsina State.
The Executive Order aims to curb illegal logging, protect Nigeria's forest resources, and align with constitutional obligations under Sections 17(2) and 20 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). Minister Lawal emphasized that forests are critical for environmental sustainability, biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation, clean air, and water resources. Continued unchecked exportation of timber exacerbates deforestation and undermines these benefits.
Key definitions in the order include:
- Forest resources — All trees, vegetation, and associated biodiversity in Nigeria's forested areas.
- Illegal logging — Unauthorized harvesting, transporting, processing, buying, or selling of timber or other forest products in violation of Nigerian laws.
This policy builds on existing export prohibitions (such as those on rough or sawn timber) and reinforces efforts to combat environmental degradation while promoting sustainable development.
The announcement was made under the theme: “Tackling the Triple Planetary Crises: Climate Change, Biodiversity Loss, and Pollution for Sustainable Development in Nigeria.”
The Federal Ministry of Environment urges strict compliance and collaboration with relevant agencies, including the Nigeria Customs Service, to enforce the ban effectively.
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