Charcoal Exporters Reaffirm Commitment to FG’s Afforestation Programme

Gilbert Ekugbe 

The Charcoal Legality Export Group has restated their commitment to key into the federal government’s afforestation plan.

Speaking during a Charcoal stakeholders meeting, Chairman, Charcoal Legality Export Group, Idowu Adesola, said his association has fulfilled their pledge to plant over one hectare of trees per member in 2023.

In his words: “We have planted over 28,000 trees in our forest and we are pleading to more exporters to come on board because if we keep falling trees, we have to constantly plant them back annually. So, there is a policy of the federal government, which is to cut one tree and replant five.

Also speaking, the Deputy Director, Federal Department of Forestry, Federal Ministry of Environment, Olukanni Bosede, however, commended the Group for complying with the regulations guiding wood and charcoal export

“So far this group has been complying with our afforestation program and this program is one of the requirements for export of wood and charcoal. We have always sensitised them on the need to replant every tree they cut down in the nation’s bid to conform to sustainability,” she said.

“The Minister of Environment, lifted the administrative ban placed on charcoal and wood export early in the year, so there is a need for a different group of exporters to comply with our reviewed guidelines on export of processed wood and charcoal,” she added.

On her part, the Legal Representative, Charcoal Export Legality and Compliance Group, Mrs. Florence Omolola Jones-Idowu said the stakeholders meeting was to sensitise the general public and environmentalists to be aware of its great strides. The Group has recorded working with the Federal Department of Forestry