FG accuses states of protecting those engaging in deforestation

Mohammed Abdulahi, minister of environment, says deforestation in Nigeria is being supported by powerful people at the sub-national level who protect loggers that produce charcoal for sale.

Abdullahi spoke on Thursday during the inter-ministerial media briefing at the Presidential Villa, in Abuja. 

The minister said the state governments have claimed that the trees belong to them, thereby, frustrating the federal government’s efforts to go after loggers and charcoal merchants.

“To have some level of control, apart from timber legal standards, we have what we call National Trust Fund (NATF), which is essentially to track in areas where there is so much pressure on our forests,” he said.

“After tracking it, raise red flags and then engage those communities and the state governments so that the solution can be brought and have a level of the 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 at the sub-national level. And if we try to do some level of enforcement, they will tell you, we own this territory, you are the 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 an ad-hoc basis, trying to find out who and who is involved, who licensed who. We are doing our best to curb the situation.”

The minister also blamed the states for insisting on receiving their share of ecological funds which has now affected interventions by the federal government in the area of erosion remediation. 

“Part of the problem is that, initially, the federal government used to intervene in state erosion matters under the ecological fund. But the states insisted that they be given their share of the ecological funds. 

“So, since then, Mr President, being a democrat, gave directives that every FAAC meeting, deductions are made and paid to states from the ecological fund. But in spite of that, the federal government through the ecological fund office still intervenes in states to support erosion challenges in several states.”

FLOOD MITIGATION PLAN UNDERWAY

Abdullahi also said a comprehensive plan to mitigate flooding across the country would soon be released. 

He said President Muhammadu Buhari had set up a committee to examine the causes of incessant flooding and that the committee had put together a number of sustainable solutions.

“We believe that once the federal government okays the report and recommendations; we should be able to roll out a very robust plan that will mitigate future occurrences of flooding,” the minister said.

“We advise the states; particularly states we think are flood prone; we advise them to take steps to either move those within the enclave of streams for rivers or lakes to the upland.

“But because of reasons of revenue, state governments issue certificates of occupancy to settlements within those areas because of revenues that trickle in from that thereby exposing the people to the vagaries and challenges of flooding.

“We will continue to provide those early warning signs; we will continue to sensitise them; we will continue to engage them to ensure that they take notice of this and take steps to mitigate the possible challenge of flooding.”