The Federal Government of Nigeria has called on charcoal merchants and other stakeholders in the forestry and agricultural sectors to adopt sustainable practices and support efforts to reverse deforestation and restore the country's degraded forests. This appeal was made by the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, at the flag-off of the 2026 Operation One Million Trees programme in Ibadan.
The Minister of Environment, represented by Dr Osakwe Igbinosa, emphasized that deforestation poses a serious threat to Nigeria's environment and economic development. He stressed the need for urgent measures to prevent further degradation of the nation's forests. According to him, tree planting is a critical measure for combating climate change, restoring biodiversity, checking desertification, and strengthening the resilience of Nigeria's ecosystems.
The Federal Ministry of Environment is implementing several afforestation and forest restoration initiatives, including the 2026 National Afforestation Programme, Sovereign Green Bond Afforestation Programme, and the National Greening of Cities and Urban Areas initiative. The Operation One Million Trees programme complements the government's environmental agenda, and participants were urged to comply with existing forestry laws and regulations.
The Chairman of the Association for Forest Conservation and Green Industrial Charcoal Merchants, Adeshola Idowu, urged charcoal merchants and Nigerians to replace trees removed from the environment. He advocated for the planting of several trees for every tree felled and called for increased use of technology, including drones, to accelerate tree planting in difficult-to-reach locations.
The Oyo State Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Ademola Aderinto, described climate change as a global challenge, warning that continued poor environmental practices could trigger severe waste management and climate crises. He identified indiscriminate tree felling for land development, housing, and business activities as major threats to biodiversity and food security.
Commissioner Aderinto urged residents and developers to plant more trees whenever trees were removed for legitimate purposes, rather than replacing them on a one-for-one basis. He also urged residents to cultivate the habit of planting trees in their immediate surroundings, appealing to them to plant at least one tree where they live, work, or walk.
The initiative, which aims to promote sustainable charcoal production, is a collaboration between the Association for Forest Conservation and Green Industrial Charcoal Merchants and its partners, including FOJ Multidynamic and Rasbat International Resources Limited. The programme's organizers disclosed that technology, including drone seeding, would be deployed to expand tree planting and improve forest protection, with a goal to make charcoal production more environmentally responsible.
Key points
- The Federal Government urges charcoal merchants to adopt sustainable practices to reverse deforestation.
- The 2026 Operation One Million Trees programme aims to promote sustainable charcoal production and restore Nigeria's degraded forests.
- Stakeholders emphasize the need for urgent measures to prevent further degradation of Nigeria's forests and combat climate change.
