Nigeria Reiterates Commitment To Tackle Illegal Forest Activities

The Nigerian Government has reiterated commitment to tackled illegal forest activities in the 36 states across the country.

It said it has put in place Guidelines and Standards that will regulate the sector and ensure sustainable forest management to increase revenue generation for the country.

Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Environment, Mr Ibrahim Yusufu stated this at a workshop on Operationlisation of the Forestry Inter-Ministerial Joint Task Force, FIM-JIF on the exploitation of Forest Recourses held in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

He stated that the Joint Task Force was emplaced to bring sanity to the Forestry Sector by ensuring investors and other players in the sector comply with Forest Laws, Standards, and Regulations to checkmate forest/wildlife crimes, illegal logging and environmental degradation.

“As you are aware, Nigeria is confronted with replete environmental challenges such as, deforestation and land degradation among others due to unsustainable logging activities especially as witnessed during the recent ban/suspension on wood and related product export from 2018 without corresponding forest replenishment.

“This, therefore, prompted the former Honorable Minister of Environment, Barr. Mohammed H. Abdullahi, to conditionally lift the ban/suspension and put in place effective measures to regulate the sector so as to achieve Sustainable Forest Management. One of the measures was the creation and launching of the JTF by the former Minister humbly represented by the then Director, overseeing the office of Permanent Secretary, Mr. Charles Ikeah on Wednesday 18th January 2023.

“The Joint Task Force was emplaced to bring sanity to the Forestry Sector by ensuring investors and other players in the sector comply with Forest Laws, Standards, and Regulations to checkmate forest/wildlife crimes, illegal logging, environmental degradation and consequently, help to reverse the deplorable state of the forest.It is very important we manage the forests sustainably for the continuous provision of an array of products and services for both the present and future generations,’’ he explained.

He also noted that the Joint Task Force, would help to reverse the deplorable state of the Nigeria forest.

“It is very important we manage the forests sustainably for the continuous provision of an array of products and services for both the present and future generations,” he said.

JTF Surveillance

The Permanent Secretary said that it is expedient that members of the reconstituted Inter-Ministerial Joint Task Force meet to deliberate on strategies for JTF surveillance and operations.

“We recognize that the states have very important roles to play in the forestry sector being custodians of the forests. With the vast experience the states have in the wood industry, coupled with diverse efforts of the Ministry and the private sector, illegal activities in the states can be tackled effectively if we are all committed to the task, having put in place Guidelines and Standards that will regulate the sector and ensure sustainable forest management while increasing revenue generation for the country,” he explained.

Curbing Illegal Forest Exploitation

Mr Yusufu, also noted that the workshop is aimed at curbing illegal forest exploitation which has affected and destroyed the country’s rich biodiversity thereby denying the ountry full realization of its potential.

“This workshop will further discuss effective collaboration with states to ensure compliance by authorized forest users with agreed laid down laws, rules, guidelines, and policies of various states and national with a view to keeping close monitoring and apprehending and handing over all culprits to appropriate authorities for sanction.

“The guideline, NTLS, and functional JTF are some of the measures the Federal Ministry of Environment is putting in place for effective monitoring, utilization, and good forest management that will be economically, socially, and environmentally viable to the country using internationally acceptable best practices,” he added.

The Director of Forestry Ministry of Environment, Mrs Hajara Umar Sami said the workshop was to save the Nigeria forest.

“We will also put in place whistleblowers both from the community level the NGO’s the CPO, in such a way that each time any illegality is sighted in the forest we will be informed about it and we will quickly swing into action,” she explained.

Head of Wildlife Management, Dept of Forestry Ministry of Environment, Mr John Daniel said that the government has provided all the necessary requirement the JTF needed to function properly.

“Because if all these things are available the issue of compromise will be very minimal and would not even be there,” he said.

Representatives, of Wood Exporter Association, Mr Dapo Olorunnisola who is also a Member of the Inter-Ministerial Committee, said that the association would make sure that members adhere to rules and regulations of the government.

“We will make sure that everybody that found wanting will be punishable according to the rules and regulation guiding the Taskforce,” he said.

Representative of Charcoal Exporters Industry, Mr Dotun Ogundeji, said the Charcoal exporters would key into the sustainability and guidelines policy of the government.

“We have to key into the guidelines of the government for us to continue with the business,” he said.

The Guidelines and standards are expected to regulate the sector and ensure sustainably Forest Management while increasing revenue generation for the country.

 

Confidence Okwuchi