By ZUBAIRU IDRIS

The Federal Government, on Wednesday in Katsina, unveiled a Presidential Executive Order prohibiting exportation of wood and allied products across the country.

The Minister of Environment, Alhaji Balarabe Abbas-Lawal, said that the order, tagged: “Presidential Executive Order on Prohibition of Exportation of Wood and Allied Products, 2025, was signed by the President Bola Tinubu.

He said that henceforth, exportation of wood, charcoal and other allied products are prohibited across the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the minister was in Katsina for the 18th meeting of the National Council on Environment (NCE).

According to the minister, the order was supposed to be launched in Abuja, but used to opportunity of the NCE meeting to unveil it in Katsina.

The meeting had as theme: ‘Tackling the triple planetary crises: climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution for sustainable development in Nigeria’.

Abbas-Lawal revealed that forests in the country belongs to the states, and they are responsible for controlling them.

He added that the Federal Government owns and control the national parks.

According to the executive order, “forests resources included all trees, vegetation, and associated biodiversity found within forested areas of Nigeria.

“Illegal logging means, unauthorised harvesting, transporting, processing, buying and selling of timber or other forests products in contravening of Nigerian laws.”

Earlier, Gov. Dikko Radda, represented by his Deputy, Faruk Lawal-Jobe, promised to ensure enforcement of the order.

He thanked the ministry for giving the state an opportunity of hosting the meeting.

Radda said that the meeting represented a national dialogue on the environment sector, its spirit, capacity, professionalism, and centrality to the democratic governance and national development. (NAN)