The rubber tree is one of the important economic trees of the tropics occurring more abundantly in the rain forest zone of Africa, South-east Asia and tropical South America. There are two species of the tree in Nigeria, namely Hevea brasiliensis and Funtumia elastica, with the former being grown in largescale commercial plantations for production of latex, the primary base for natural rubber products. Little attention has been paid in the past to industrial utilisation of rubber wood. Given the predictesd decline of world demand for natural rubber, utilisation of rubber wood will enahnce profitability of the plantations and promote efficient land use. Preliminary investigations of the morphology, anatomical properties, demand and availability of the wood of Hevea brasiliensis in Nigeria indicate that it is suitable for fuel-wood and the whole range of industrial wood products including poles, sawnwood, pulp and paper. The greatest potential in the short-term is for poles. Such poles must be subjected to preservative chemical treatment. It is indicated that demand is not a constraint to industrial utilization of rubber wood in Nigeria provided appropriate marketing policies are implemented by the industry. The need for the agriculture and forest departments to cooperate closely in assisting the growers and users of rubber wood to sustain profitable business and enahnce effiency of land use in Nigeria is emphasised.