Minister Tasks Charcoal Merchants on Sustainable Forestry

Nigeria's Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abass Lawal, has called on charcoal merchants and other forestry sector stakeholders to adopt sustainable practices and aid the government's efforts to combat deforestation. This directive came during the launch of the 2026 Operation One Million Trees Tree Planting Programme, organized by the Association for Forest Conservation and Green Industrial Charcoal Merchants at the University of Ibadan's Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources.

The one-day event gathered forestry practitioners, charcoal merchants, environmentalists, students, regulators, and other stakeholders. The goal of the programme is to promote afforestation and encourage responsible forest resource management. Speaking at the event, Lawal highlighted the importance of tree planting in addressing climate change, reversing deforestation, conserving biodiversity, controlling desertification, and enhancing the resilience of Nigeria's ecosystems.

Nigeria's forests offer crucial environmental, social, and economic benefits, including water resource regulation, livelihood provision for millions, and biodiversity conservation. The minister emphasized that the Federal Ministry of Environment is committed to sustainable forest management through restoration, forest cover increase, and climate resilience promotion across the country.

On June 8, 2026, the ministry launched the 2026 National Afforestation Programme as part of the implementation of the Federal Government's ban on the export of wood and charcoal.

During the programme, Lawal underscored the importance of ensuring that forestry activities comply with existing laws, environmental regulations, and government policies. He stressed that afforestation success should be measured by the number of surviving, mature trees, rather than just the number of seedlings planted. He also praised stakeholders for their role in protecting trees, advocating for the replacement of every tree cut down with at least several new ones.

The Oyo State Commissioner for Environment, Ademola Aderinto, commended the Oyo State Governor's environmental policies promoting afforestation as an effective climate change-fighting measure. He assured stakeholders that tree cutting is discouraged in the state, with offenders facing penalties. Florence Omolola, the Chief Strategy Officer of FOJ Multidynamic Interchange Nigeria Limited, explained that the three-day programme aimed to sensitize stakeholders, engage youths, plant trees, and verify afforestation efforts. The verification process will involve physical evidence presentation to enhance transparency.