Nigeria is losing about 400,000 hectares of forest cover annually to deforestation, a development stakeholders in the charcoal sector say poses a threat to livelihoods, afforestation efforts, and the country’s international commitments.
The National President, National Charcoal Producers, Dealers, Exporters, and Afforestation of Nigeria, Mr. Babatunde Edu, made this known at a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja on Thursday.
Edu described the situation as alarming, stressing that the charcoal industry stood at a “critical juncture” and required urgent enforcement of compliance across the sector.
“We gather not merely to discuss, but to act. The charcoal sector in Nigeria stands at a critical juncture. On one hand, we recognise its economic value as a source of livelihood for millions and as a significant contributor to trade and investment.
“On the other hand, we are confronted by increasingly unhealthy practices, reckless exploitation, and lack of compliance to the established guidelines. Nigeria loses an estimated 400,000 hectares of forest cover every year, primarily due to agricultural expansion, unsustainable logging, and related pressures,” he said.
Edu warned that if destructive practices were left unchecked, the sector would be crippled, afforestation undermined, and Nigeria’s reputation on environmental sustainability damaged.
He said Nigeria had already lost more than half of its forest cover between 1990 and 2020, with up to 80 per cent of original forest reserves depleted.
Edu identified agricultural expansion, industrial development, urbanisation, farming, and illegal logging as major drivers of deforestation.
He further cautioned that Nigeria risked losing out in global trade as the European Union (EU) would from December 2025 enforce new regulations requiring commodities such as soybeans, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, and wood to be sourced from non-deforested lands.
“The EU has moved ahead with stricter rules, and if we fail to enforce compliance here, Nigerian products will face rejection abroad. Compliance is not optional; it is the bedrock of legitimacy both locally and internationally,” Edu said.
On the proposed ban on charcoal export, he disclosed that the Presidency had directed the Ministries of Trade and Environment to review the matter.
According to him, the move is aimed at strengthening regulation of the sector rather than imposing a blanket ban.
Edu called for the creation of a Joint Task Force to enforce compliance, curb illegal practices, and protect local stakeholders. He also urged the government to end foreign dominance in the trade, noting that it violates the Federal Executive Council’s directive against foreigners buying produce at farm gates.
“This is not the time for lip service. This is the time for decisive action. If we do not enforce compliance today, there will be no sustainable future for our business and no viable charcoal industry for generations to come,” he added.