Charcoal dealers, users face tough times as Niger stops tree felling

By Wasilat Ahmad

As Niger state continues to count its losses as a result of flood that affected farmlands and houses occasioned by the activities of those felling trees, the state government is not relenting on its effort to end deforestation.
Findings by NatureNews show that Niger state is among the top producers of charcoal in Nigeria.
It charcoal is rated among the best in the country.
The poduction of charcoal it was gathered involves different caliber of people in the state who make fortune from the business thereby exposing the state to danger of deforestation.
Speaking to Naturenews in an interview in Minna, the coordinator of taskforce on forestry
deforestation and protection in Niger state, Honorable Isah Lapene said forests in the state are not safe because of the activities of those dealing in charcoal.
“The forests are not safe. The forest is filled with people who are cutting trees. If you go to Bosso dam, you will see people cutting wood. If you don’t meet them, you will see the wood on the ground. If you are going to Suleja, after Chachanga, you will meet people cutting wood and these are economic trees that are supposed to protect the state.
“Our activities as a taskforce have forced a lot of people out of the business. In fact, some people took loans to start charcoal business because they don’t know the risk that is involved and the effect on the state.
“When I came into office, a bag of charcoal was N700 but today, a bag of charcoal is from N2,700 to N3,000. So I don’t need to be told that I’m working.
“When you check round the state now, our activities have made the commodity so scarce. Smuggling charcoal inside Minna is like smuggling foreign rice now.
“Another thing I found out is that the local people are not involved in deforestation. A lot of top people in the society including uniform personnel are also engaged in this.
“I have arrested some of them, army with uniform moving charcoal fom Gulu to to Minna or Gulu to abuja.
“If you have 10 litres of petrol and 10 bags of charcoal, the interest in 10 litres of petrol won’t be more than N1000 but in charcoal, if you get one bag from the bush at N700 to N800 and you bring it to Minna, you will sell it for N2,500 and above. You can imagine the interest.
“These days, people take loans from the bank because they want to move charcoal, “Lapene said.
Our reporter learnt that some of the charcoal merchants in the state have given up on the business as the taskforce continues to arrest them.
Lapene said, “I have arrested over 100 vehicles in the last three months and I have impounded all of them. I have also arrested over 60 truck loads of charcoal.
“The problem we have is that forestry is not a ministry for generating revenue, it is a ministry for the total eradication of deforestation.
“People commit offences in forestry like when you cut wood to make charcoal and I catch you, I won’t allow you to go despite the fact that I didn’t see the wood that was cut down because it is the wood that is used for the charcoal, so you should be punished for the wood you cut to make the charcoal.
“The charcoal I have here is about 2,000 bags. The warehouse is filled with charcoal.
“This place is not secure as some people come and steal charcoal and go away.
“Sometimes a staff carries it. This is why I put them inside the warehouse so that the guard can see how he can protect the ones outside.”
Many users of charcoal especially restaurant owners are now looking for an alternative to able stay in the business.