Fight Illegal Poaching, Felling of Trees, Obasanjo Tells FG, States

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, tasked government at all levels to fight illegal felling of trees and poaching to protect the forests and its abundant resources.

He said this at the 42nd annual conference of the Forest Association of Nigeria (FAN), which coincided with the 50th anniversary of the association.

According to the former President who was represented by Deacon

Sunday Agusa, “we must ensure that we do not, arising from our negligence lose our endangered species. We must begin to harness, document and advance the innumerable benefits of our forests in solving contemporary health issues. We must begin to look at and devise means of protecting our forests from those who are concerned about today without iota of consideration for the resultant effects of their actions and inaction”

The former Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Julius Okojie, in his keynote address, urged Nigerian governments to arrest the ongoing spate of deforestation ongoing in the country to avert negative effects of global warming and climate change.

Okojie who noted that it is increasingly becoming difficult to check forest encroachment in Nigeria, stated that forest-protecting agencies should be equipped with the necessary tools to fight encroachments in the forest estates.

He added that strategies for protecting the forest against encroachment should involve holistic approach that will incorporate social and energy security of the people.

He further identified inadequate policy and measures, weak law enforcement, and lack of transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s forest reserves administration, noting that the newly approved National Forest Policy 2018 is capable of addressing most of the challenges confronting growth and development of the sector