By Abdullahi Lukman
A coalition of more than 300 civil society organisations (CSOs) has welcomed the Presidential Executive Order banning the exportation of wood and allied products, describing it as a timely step toward addressing deforestation and climate change in Nigeria.
The groups, operating under the Climate and Sustainable Development Network (CSDevNet) alongside the United Youths for Environmental Sustainability Initiatives (UY4ESI), said the 2025 Executive Order could help slow forest loss and strengthen environmental governance if implemented with transparency, coordination and social safeguards.
In a statement issued on Sunday, January 18, 2026, the organisations described Nigeria’s forests and wetlands as vital national assets that support climate regulation, biodiversity, food security and livelihoods.
They warned that rapid degradation caused by commercial logging, weak regulation and cross-border trade has disproportionately affected rural and forest-dependent communities, contributing to floods, desertification, land degradation, food insecurity and resource-related conflicts.
The groups stressed that the export ban should be seen not merely as a trade restriction but as a climate justice and environmental security measure aimed at protecting shared ecological resources.
However, they cautioned that the ban alone would not halt deforestation without strong enforcement and coordination across federal, state and local governments.
They noted that weak enforcement could shift logging activities to domestic and informal markets, often harming small-scale actors while allowing powerful interests to evade regulation.
CSDevNet and UY4ESI called for clear enforcement roles for customs, port authorities, border agencies and forestry institutions, supported by transparent reporting on seizures, prosecutions and forest monitoring data.
They also emphasised that the policy’s success depends on addressing the livelihood and energy needs of millions of Nigerians who rely on fuelwood and charcoal for cooking and income. According to the groups, abrupt restrictions without affordable alternatives could worsen energy poverty and fuel illegal markets.
CSDevNet National Network Coordinator, Abu Stephen, said forest protection must go hand in hand with protecting people, urging fair enforcement and support for communities dependent on wood-based livelihoods.
UY4ESI Executive Director, Musa Ibrahim, added that the policy provides an opportunity to invest in clean energy, sustainable agriculture and local innovation to ensure long-term resilience.
The groups highlighted existing initiatives, including clean cook stove adoption, briquette production and climate-resilient agriculture, as practical solutions that could be scaled with political will and adequate financing.
They called on governments, development partners and the private sector to treat the Executive Order as the starting point for broader reforms that integrate forest conservation with clean energy access, sustainable land use and community-led development.