Just over a year after lifting the ban, this African country has once again prohibited the export of timber: there is no timber waiting to be shipped at the port.

At the 18th National Environmental Council meeting held in Katsina State, Nigeria, Environment Minister Barr. Lawal officially announced a policy named "Executive Order on the Ban of Export of Timber and Related Products in 2025", marking the re-implementation of Nigeria's policy to completely close its borders to timber exports. 

It is reported that the policy has been signed by President Bola Tinubu and officially published in the Federal Government Gazette. Lawal said that this policy aims to curb illegal logging, reduce deforestation, and protect the country's important natural resources for future generations.

He pointed out that forests play an irreplaceable role in supporting economic development, maintaining environmental sustainability, protecting biodiversity, and addressing climate change. However, continuous wood exports not only weaken these ecological benefits but also accelerate ecological degradation.

This ban is based on Article 17(2) and Article 20 of the revised 1999 Constitution. It clearly states that the federal government has the responsibility to prevent the predatory exploitation of resources, protect land and forests, and safeguard land, forests, and wildlife for the benefit of the public. The executive order clearly states that unregulated logging and export activities are in direct conflict with this ban. 

Nigeria's timber export policy has long vacillated between "ban" and "allow". Looking back to 2023, the Nigerian government lifted the timber export ban at that time. The government claimed that this move was aimed at promoting trade diversification and alleviating the economic pressure it was facing at the time.

However, just one year later, based on strategic considerations of protecting its own natural resources and promoting the long-term development of the domestic timber industry, the Nigerian government once again included the timber export ban in its policy agenda. Now, after two years, the timber export ban has officially transformed from a state of "awaiting further discussion" to a policy that is actually implemented. 

When discussing the implementation of the executive order, Laval stated at the meeting that once the executive order was signed:

All logging and export permits issued by ministries, departments or agencies were immediately frozen and declared invalid;

The ban took effect immediately with "zero buffer", and related export clearances had already been halted before the order was issued.

He emphasized to the media 'Premium Times': 'There is no wood waiting to be shipped at the port - it has been stopped since last year.' Any wood products currently stranded in the port area are not legal goods in transit but illegal goods intercepted by the security department.