- The goal is to augment natural forests and meet domestic and international demand for forest products
The Federal Government has established tree plantations in all 36 states, featuring both native and non-native species.
Environment Minister Balarabe Lawal announced this at the Forestry Association of Nigeria’s 45th annual conference in Katsina. According to Lawal, who was represented by Deputy Director Bosede Olukanmi, the goal is to augment natural forests and meet domestic and international demand for forest products.
The initiative also aims to create jobs for local youths. The minister emphasized the significance of forestry in Nigeria’s economy, citing its contribution to GDP, employment opportunities, and foreign exchange earnings through exports.
Mr Lawal said, “It will interest you to know that owing to the reawakened and renewed demand of the country’s woods in recent times by China, Vietnam, India, Nigeria has been listed as one of the exporting countries of woods and charcoal to these countries. This is with a view to providing forest products to feed domestic and international markets.”
In his remarks, President of the association, Dr Afolani Tajudeen, disclosed that over the years, the association had sounded the alarm against abuse, misuse and collective damage to the forests.
On his part, the Katsina State governor, Dikko Radda, said his administration was ready to partner with the association to protect and preserve the natural forest in the state.
Mr Radda said that the government established a committee to recover the forests encroached across the state.
“We are now waiting for the committee to submit its reports for the government to implement recommendations,” he said.
The conference had as its theme “Forests for national wealth and job creation.”