Federal Government Backs Proposed National Forest Association, Seeks Greater Investment in Forest Sector

The Federal Government has expressed support for the proposed National Forest Association of Nigeria, describing the initiative as a major step towards building a more coordinated, investment-driven and sustainable forest sector.

Assistant Director at the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Felicia Udeh, stated this at a national stakeholders’ meeting convened to consider and adopt the draft constitution of the proposed association.

Udeh said the meeting marked more than the adoption of a governance document, describing it as an important milestone in efforts to build a stronger and more sustainable future for Nigeria’s forest sector.

She noted that Nigeria’s forest resources were under considerable pressure, citing World Bank data which showed that forests accounted for about 23.2 per cent of the country’s land area in 2023, compared with 25.7 per cent for sub-Saharan Africa.

According to her, declining forest coverage, population growth, economic activities and increasing demand for forest resources pose serious implications for livelihoods, industrial development, environmental sustainability, climate resilience and national resource security.

She therefore called for greater investment in forest establishment and restoration, sustainable forest management, plantation development, technology, research, infrastructure and value addition.

Udeh explained that the proposed association would serve as a broad-based platform to promote investment, development and sustainable growth across Nigeria’s forest value chain.

She clarified that the association would complement, rather than compete with, existing product-based associations, by providing a common platform to address issues affecting the forest sector as a whole while respecting the mandates of specialised groups.

The ministry, she said, remained committed to promoting Nigerian commodities and value chains, strengthening value addition, facilitating investment and creating an enabling environment for sustainable economic development.

Udeh also stressed that the forest sector has significant potential to contribute to industrialisation, job creation, economic diversification, investment and export development.

Meanwhile, stakeholders in the forest sector commended the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment for its efforts to bring the various associations operating independently under one umbrella.

They said the proposed National Forest Association would provide a stronger collective voice for stakeholders, promote collaboration and help address common challenges confronting the sector.

The stakeholders also expressed optimism that a unified association would improve coordination, attract investment and enhance the development of Nigeria’s forest value chain.

Udeh commended the institutional drafting committee and constitutional review committee for their dedication to developing and refining the proposed constitution.

She urged stakeholders to approach the adoption process with a strong sense of responsibility and national purpose, saying the ultimate goal should be to establish a credible, inclusive and investment-driven association capable of uniting stakeholders, attracting investment, supporting forest restoration, creating employment and contributing to Nigeria’s sustainable development.