Professor Declares Insecurity  Dangerous To Forestry Practice In Nigeria 

From Olubunmi Osoteku 

 

 

 

A Professor of Forest Engineering, Ayodeji Omole, has lamented that forestry practice in Nigeria has become endangered due to insecurity such as widespread incidences of attacks, killings, raping, and kidnapping for ransom by armed men.

 

Omole, who is the Chairman, Governing Council, Ladoke Akintola University (LAUTECH), Ogbomosho, Oyo State, noted that the perpetrators, who are allegedly foreigners, and their local collaborators, have taken over many of the forest estates in Nigeria.

 

Professor Omole of the Department of Forest Production and Product spoke while delivering the 561st Inaugural Lecture of the University of Ibadan (UI), entitled “Working in the Shadows of Death” on behalf of the Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources.

 

The lecture, which held under the Chairmanship of the Vice Chancellor, Professor Kayode Adebowale, and attended by Governor Seyi Makinde, represented by his deputy, Bayo Lawal, toook place at the Trenchard Hall, UI.

 

Omole stated that insecurity in Nigeria’s forest estates is perhaps the only problem that has hitherto defied all strategic solutions, as Nigerian forests can simply be described as one of the most threatened in Africa because of high population growth rate, forest conversion to subsistence and industrial agriculture, illegal logging and unsafe environment.

 

He said: “Unfortunately, it is pathetic that the military formations seem helpless in effectively tackling and eradicating this particular monstrous challenge. The monopoly of violence is no longer an exclusive right of the military but by the non-state actors. These security breaches are too numerous to mention. 

 

“The media is daily awash with the news of attacks of bandits in Nigeria. The most perplexing aspect of these security challenges is that bandits, unknown gun-men or insurgents are majorly occupying many of our national forests in all parts of Nigeria from Sambisa Forest in Borno State, to many forests in the Southwestern parts of Nigeria,” Prof. Omole disclosed.

 

He noted that forests in the South-East and South-South are not exempted from the activities of the bandits, explaining that since 2013, when Boko Haram insurgents found a safe haven in the Sambisa Forest, from where they launch their attacks on the Nigerian State, neither Nigeria nor the forest have known any peace, with the situation growning from bad to worse.

 

Omole explained that forest establishment is directly affected or impeded as a result of the risk associated with planning and carrying out any planting operations in forest areas because farmers have lost their lives to the sporadic shootings of insurgents, bandits or unknown-gun-men in many parts of Nigeria: on their farms, highways and villages.

 

He said: “This kind of situation has made the practice of forestry a serious challenge in Nigeria. Even though most of the attacks are in the northern parts, the ripple effects are felt all over the country. There is no doubt that all this would affect the economic growth, foreign exchange earnings and stability of the country.”    

 

The professor, therefore, made a case for allocation of special funding to support conservation and sustainable management of forests in the country, noting that the measure will help combat illegal logging, land encroachment and other activities that lead to deforestation.

 

He stated: “Special fund allocation for forestry is crucial for several reasons, as it directly supports the conservation and sustainable management of forests, which are vital for environmental, economic, and social well-being. These funds can be used for surveillance, enforcement, and community engagement initiatives to protect forest resources.”

 

Omole advised the University of Ibadan to ensure removal and correcting of tree defects (through pruning, cabling and bracing) to reduce the risk posed to public safety by trees, emphasising the need for the university to develop policies that will minimise the disturbance of municipal trees, and promote a tree-friendly attitude in relation to development and expansion.

 

 

 

 

 

Oyenike Oyeniyi