By Awyetu Asabe Hope
The Federal Government has backed the proposed National Forest Association of Nigeria, saying it would strengthen coordination, investment and sustainable development across the sector.
The Assistant Director, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Felicia Udeh, stated this at a national stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja on Friday, to consider and adopt the association’s draft constitution.
Udeh said the meeting marked a milestone in efforts to build a stronger and more sustainable forest sector, noting that Nigeria’s forest resources were under increasing pressure.
She cited World Bank data showing that forests covered 23.2 per cent of Nigeria’s land area in 2023, warning that declining forest coverage, population growth, economic activities and rising demand for forest resources were threatening livelihoods, industrial development and environmental sustainability.
According to her, the challenges also have implications for climate resilience and national resource security, requiring increased investment in forest restoration, sustainable management and plantation development.
Udeh called for greater investment in technology, research, infrastructure and value addition to strengthen the sector and improve Nigeria’s global competitiveness.
She said the proposed association would provide a broad-based platform for investment, development and sustainable growth across the forest value chain while complementing, rather than competing with, existing product-based associations.
“The association will provide a common platform to address sector-wide issues while respecting the mandates of specialised groups,” she said.
Udeh said the ministry remained committed to promoting Nigerian commodities and value chains, increasing value addition, facilitating investment and creating an enabling environment for inclusive economic development.
She added that the forest sector could drive industrialisation, job creation, economic diversification, investment and export development if properly harnessed.
The ministry official commended the institutional drafting and constitutional review committees and urged stakeholders to support an inclusive and credible association.
The National Secretary-General of the National Association of Charcoal Producers, Dealers, Exporters and Afforestation of Nigeria, Ojei Uche, also commended the initiative, saying it would give stakeholders a stronger collective voice and help address common challenges in the sector.
