The FG has blamed state managers for protecting loggers who produce charcoal for sale. Apparently, the failure to stop ongoing deforestation in the country is the state’s fault. Mohammed Abdullahi, Minister of Environment made the statement on Thursday while attending the 69th Inter-Ministerial Media Briefing hosted by the Presidential Communications at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
He said that whenever the federal government tried to take action against environmental threats, there was backlash at the local level because the trees belonged to the states.
However, the minister announced the commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari’s government to this cause. He stated that by 2030, the goal of planting 25 million trees will be achieved. This is a part of his ongoing afforestation policy.
He said 5 million trees have been planted since last year to date. However, urbanization and agricultural activities present challenges to the target. It also greatly aids deforestation in the country.
Asked to speak on felling of trees for charcoal, he said-
“No other administration has tackled this issue like the Buhari administration. The challenge we are facing under deforestation and charcoal is engaging Nigerian Governors Forum because of the Land Use Act.
“The federal government is just a policy provider and doesn’t have that control over state government land to work out a modality which Kaduna State government has keyed in properly.
“It has invested some hectares of land to plant and we are working with the local governments. So, we are projecting other states will follow suit. What we further did to have some level of control, apart from timber legal standard, we have what we call DFTA, which is essentially to track in areas where there is so much pressure on our forests.
“After tracking it, raise red flag and then engage those communities and the state governments so that a solution can be brought and have and a level of arrest of the continuous challenge to our forest. What we did not tell you, is that the activities of the people in the charcoal business with all due respect are being supported by a number of powerful people in the sub-national level. And if we try to do some level of enforcement, they will tell you, we own this territory, you are federal government and you cannot enforce your rule and policy on us.
“So, that is part of the challenge in terms of controlling these activities. But in spite of this, the task force is still there, going after some of them on ad-hoc basis, trying to find out who and who is involved, who licensed who. We are doing our best to curb the situation.”
cc: Daily Trust Ng
