Nigerian Forest Cover Drops to 3%, Says Asiodu, Calls for Restoration

Goodness Nkechi Sunday

The President, Board of Trustees of the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), Chief Izoma Philip Asiodu has said that Nigeria’s forest cover has drooped to 3% from 35% at independece.

The NCF’s BOT President stated this at the Foundation’s Green Ball event in Lagos.

The Green Ball themed, “Partnership for Conservation and Restoration of Mangroves”, aimed to raise awareness and support for environmental conservation efforts across the nation.

He said, “The whole vision of the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) is that man should be able to live in harmony with sustainable nature.

“At independence, we had more than 35% forest cover. Right now, it is 3% and we do not want to turn Nigeria into a desert.

“So we must do everything to restore the Mangroves in the Delta. We must do everything to restore the Delta. We must do everything to stop the pollution through irresponsible, uncaring exploitation. We can exploit the oil resources but at the same time, prevent pollution. “When you look at the world maps, Lagos is now one of the most polluted cities in the world. It should not be so. It is not good for you and me. So it is a great charge and a great responsibility.” 

Asiodu expressed his concern for the restoration of the Mangrove ecosystem.

On the establishment of the Lekki Conservation Center (LCC), he said they called for the help of the Lagos State Government, “we acquired the land of the Lekki Conservation Center, luckily when land was not too expensive but the Lagos State Government under about 10, 15, 20 years ago, they helped us when we were building the Lekki Conservation Center and they helped to build the family park, the aerial road work, the jungle gym center, so families can go there and would not know they are in Lagos.

“They hear birds and they see monkeys, they look down, they can see crocodiles but they are safe because the forest guards are there taking them around and when they climb up on the aerial road. There are level of tops of trees, they look down and they see beautiful things because we have preserved the original vegetation of Lagos area Mangroves.

“But, we are now threatened. Houses are being built, the drainage is not draining to the sea, it is coming into the reserve.”

Director General of the Nigerian Conservation Foundation, Dr. Joseph Onoja, did a presentation on Partnership for Conservation and Restoration of Mangroves.

Using illustration and pictures, he highlighted the effects of tampering with Mangroves in the ecosystem.

The Director General laid emphasis on the importance of collective action in preserving the country’s rich biodiversity. Onoja said  “Conscious efforts put into the course of Mangrove restoration on the part of everyone, both governmental and non-governmental entities, will by all means increase the forest cover as it is a course for serious concern.”

He said, “The Nigerian Conservation Foundation Green Ball is our annual fundraising dinner that we usually call for partnership from different stakeholders who will be able to support us in the conservation that we do because we know that we cannot do it alone and, this year, we decided to focus on our Mangrove ecosystem because our Mangrove ecosystem has undergone and still undergoing degradation and there is a need for us to consciously restore our Mangrove ecosystem because of the very important role they play.

“Apart from the social, economic and ecological function that it does, it is very important for us to continue to see what we can do to ensure that it plays its role so that it will be able to protect both the environment and humans as well. So, that is why we are calling people’s attention to this and also, calling for support and partnership for us to restore our Mangroves because we are losing our Mangroves at an alarming rate.”

The Green Ball event was an evening of elegance and advocacy, bringing together environmental enthusiasts, conservationists, stakeholders, and prominent personalities to celebrate the beauty of Nigeria’s natural heritage.