The federal government has backed the proposed National Forest Association of Nigeria, saying it would promote coordination, investment and sustainable development in the sector.

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.

Ms Udeh said the meeting marked an important milestone in efforts to build a stronger, more sustainable forest sector.

She noted that Nigeria’s forest resources were under considerable pressure, citing World Bank data which put forest coverage at 23.2 per cent of the country’s land area in 2023.

According to her, declining forest coverage, population growth, economic activities and rising demand for forest resources have implications for livelihoods, industrial development and environmental sustainability.

She said the challenges also affected climate resilience and national resource security, requiring greater investment in forest restoration, sustainable management and plantation development.

Ms Udeh also called for increased investment in technology, research, infrastructure and value addition to strengthen the sector and enhance Nigeria’s global competitiveness.

She said the proposed association would provide a broad-based platform to promote investment, development and sustainable growth across the forest value chain.

The association, she added, would encourage collaboration among stakeholders and complement existing product-based associations without competing with their mandates.

“The association will provide a common platform to address sector-wide issues while respecting the mandates of specialised groups,” she said.

Ms Udeh said the ministry remained committed to promoting Nigerian commodities and value chains, strengthening value addition, facilitating investment and creating an enabling environment for inclusive economic development.

She said the forest sector had significant potential to drive industrialisation, job creation, economic diversification, investment and export development if properly harnessed.

Ms Udeh commended the institutional drafting and constitutional review committees for their work, urging stakeholders to support an inclusive and credible association.

Ojei Uche, national secretary-general of the National Association of Charcoal Producers, Dealers, Exporters and Afforestation of Nigeria, commended the ministry for bringing sector associations under a common umbrella.

He said the proposed association would give stakeholders a stronger collective voice, promote collaboration and help address common challenges confronting the sector. 

(NAN)