The Federal Government has warned that Nigeria’s growing charcoal trade poses a serious threat to the nation’s forests and rural livelihoods.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

This concern was voiced on Wednesday by Dr. Aishetu Ndayako, Permanent Secretary of the Ecological Project Office under the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. She made the remarks at a one-day stakeholders’ dialogue on charcoal production and forest conservation in Abuja.

The event, themed “Trade and Trees: Rethinking Charcoal Production and the Vanishing Forests,” was convened by the Centre for Renewable Energy and Action on Climate Change, with support from EkoEnergy.

In her presentation titled “Charcoal Trade, Forest Loss and Ecological Challenges in Nigeria,” Ndayako acknowledged that charcoal remains a crucial household energy source for millions, especially in rural and peri-urban areas. However, she warned that the industry’s informal and poorly regulated nature has triggered alarming levels of deforestation, ecosystem collapse, and biodiversity loss.

“The irony is that while charcoal remains a lifeline for energy needs, especially in underserved communities, its rising demand—driven both by domestic consumption and exports—has led to unchecked tree felling and widespread environmental degradation,” Ndayako said.

She emphasized that forests, which play critical roles as carbon sinks, biodiversity hotspots, and cultural heritage sites, are now under siege.

To address the crisis, Ndayako called for harmonized national policies on forest management and biomass energy, coupled with stronger enforcement to regulate charcoal production and trade. She urged for greater involvement of local communities in sustainable forestry practices, including tree planting, agroforestry, and the development of community woodlots.

“We must shift our mindset—forests are renewable assets, not expendable commodities,” she said. “Transitioning to cleaner energy sources like LPG, ethanol, biogas, and improved biomass cookstoves is urgent, especially for vulnerable rural populations.”

She reaffirmed her office’s commitment to promoting inclusive dialogues to find sustainable solutions to the ecological consequences of charcoal production.

Also speaking at the event, Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, highlighted the essential role forests play in global climate regulation, carbon absorption, and sustaining biodiversity. Represented by Mrs. Aminulai Modupe, Assistant Director of Environmental Science Education, Ahmad stressed the importance of integrating environmental education into the national curriculum.

“We must raise a generation that understands the long-term costs of unsustainable practices and values conservation,” she said.

Ahmad also mentioned the launch of the Diaspora Bridge Initiative, which aims to enhance research and international collaboration in STEM-Medical fields across Nigeria’s higher institutions.

She called on stakeholders to support grassroots awareness programmes and promote more sustainable charcoal production methods.

“Through education, students are now learning about tree life cycles, biodiversity, and the broader importance of sustainability from an early age,” Ahmad added.

Meanwhile, Usman Muhammad, Executive Director of the Centre for Renewable Energy and Action on Climate Change, noted that Nigeria, as Africa’s top charcoal producer and second globally, is now grappling with an accelerating environmental crisis.

He warned that states like Niger, Taraba, Benue, Kwara, and Kogi are witnessing alarming rates of deforestation and loss of tree cover—particularly across the savannah woodlands—due to charcoal extraction.

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