Amid worsening economic conditions, many Nigerians are increasingly turning to charcoal and firewood for cooking, raising concerns about the environmental and health impacts of the trend.
This is just as Usman Muhammad, the Executive Director of Centre for Renewable Energy and Action on Climate Change (CREACC-NG), said that Nigeria ranks as Africa’s top charcoal producer and holds the second position worldwide.
He emphasized that the scale of production has greatly accelerated deforestation.
He noted that an estimated 1.5 million trees are felled daily, driving an annual deforestation rate of 3.5%. The environmental fallout includes elevated carbon emissions, loss of biodiversity, worsening drought conditions, soil degradation, creeping desertification, and health risks stemming from inefficient production practices.
Speaking at a stakeholder dialogue on Wednesday in Abuja, the Federal Government warned that the growing charcoal trade poses a serious threat to Nigeria’s forests and long-term ecological stability.
Dr Aishetu Ndayako, Permanent Secretary of the Ecological Project Office (EPO), said the largely informal and poorly regulated charcoal sector is contributing to widespread deforestation and ecosystem damage.
“The paradox is that charcoal remains a significant source of household energy for millions of Nigerians, particularly in rural and peri-urban communities,” she said. “With over 70 per cent of our population depending on biomass for cooking, the demand for charcoal has grown exponentially, both for domestic use and as an export commodity.”
She said that trees are often felled without regulation, resulting in environmental degradation with little investment in reforestation. “Forests, which serve as our carbon sinks, biodiversity reservoirs and cultural heritage, are under siege,” she added.
The event, organised by the Centre for CREACC-NG and supported by EkoEnergy, was themed: “Trade and Trees – Rethinking Charcoal Production and the Vanishing Forests.
Ndayako called for stronger policy coordination, community engagement in sustainable forestry, and investment in alternative energy sources such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), biogas, and solar cookstoves.
“Forests must be seen as renewable assets, not disposable resources,” she said.
Also speaking, the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, noted the importance of environmental education in addressing unsustainable practices. Represented by Mrs Aminulai Modupe, Assistant Director in the Environmental Science Education Department, she said environmental awareness must be integrated into the national curriculum to foster long-term change.
“Students are learning about tree life cycles, biodiversity and the importance of sustainability from an early age,” she said. Ahmad also mentioned the ministry’s Diaspora Bridge Initiative, which aims to strengthen research collaboration in science and technology fields.
Executive Director of CREACC-NG, Muhammad, said Nigeria is the largest producer of charcoal in Africa and second globally, with production activities contributing to high rates of deforestation.
“1.5 million trees are lost every day, contributing to a 3.5 per cent deforestation rate annually,” he said. “This leads to significant CO₂ emissions, biodiversity loss, drought, land degradation, desertification and health issues from inefficient production methods.”
Muhammad said the centre plans to convene a national summit in June 2026 to deepen the conversation and coordinate a national response to the crisis.
