The Federal Government has warned that charcoal trade is a threat to forest sustainability and livelihood in the country.
Permanent Secretary, Ecological Project Office, Office of the Secretary to the Federal Government, Mrs. Aishetu Ndayako, who made this known during the opening of a one-day stakeholders’ dialogue on charcoal production and forest conservation, noted that charcoal remains a vital source of household energy for millions of Nigerians, especially in rural and semi-urban areas.
Mrs. Ndayako, however explained that the largely informal and weakly regulated nature of the trade has resulted in severe environmental consequences, including deforestation, ecosystem collapse, and biodiversity loss.
She said that the Ecological Project Office is committed to supporting dialogues that unite stakeholders in finding sustainable solutions to the ecological impact of charcoal production and forest degradation.
Writing by Gladys Haruna