Nigeria’s forests face critical threat from unregulated deforestation, charcoal industry warns
Stakeholders say the country loses 400,000 hectares annually, jeopardizing environment, economy, and global trade
ABUJA, Nigeria (MNTV) — Nigeria is losing an estimated 400,000 hectares of forest cover each year to unchecked deforestation, according to the country’s charcoal industry leaders, who warn the trend threatens both the environment and the economy.
Babatunde Edu, president of the National Charcoal Producers, Dealers, Exporters, and Afforestation of Nigeria, said Thursday that unsustainable logging, farming, and illegal practices were driving the losses.
He stressed that the industry provides livelihoods for millions but is being undermined by “reckless exploitation and lack of compliance,” including growing foreign dominance in the trade.
Edu cautioned that the destruction could damage Nigeria’s international reputation and hurt exports.
From December 2025, new European Union rules will ban commodities such as cocoa, soybeans, and wood sourced from recently deforested land.
Nigeria has already lost more than half its forest cover since 1990, with up to 80% of original reserves depleted. Edu urged stricter regulation, saying compliance was essential for both sustainability and trade legitimacy.
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