By Opeyemi Ibrahim
Abuja, Sept. 28, 2021 (NAN) Mr .Babatunde Edu Acting President, National Association of Charcoal Producers, Dealers, Exporters and Afforestation of Nigeria, has appealed to the Federal Government to lift the ban on exportation of charcoal.
Edu made the appeal on Tuesday in Abuja at a charcoal subsector stakeholders meeting in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment .
Edu emphasised that Charcoal played a major role in contributing to the nation’s economic growth stating that Nigeria is the second exporter of charcoal globally and number one in Africa.
According to edu, the ban has cut across several sectors from transporters, investors amongst others, noting that exporters have lost investments.
” Government position on the ban of charcoal export is understood because what the country plant could not equate what is been exported
” We use charcoal for timber and other things but government felt that the exporters of the charcoal were the ones destroying the forest hence the ban
” We are here to appeal again to government to lift the ban, before now , government is saying that it takes process but the process cannot equate the damage or effect as long as the ban stays.
” We have foreign buyers that give us part payment to support us because we cannot take loan from the bank . And lots of their monies are stuck here in the country.
” We are also the highest consumer of charcoal in Africa, not only for export and the ban is affecting everything that has to do with charcoal be it for local use or export.
” Stakeholders in the north are the most affected by the ban due to security challenges. A lot of them can not enter the forest to bring the charcoal.
” Charcoal is scare and it is being sold for 2, 800 niara per bag due to the ban and so many people can not afford cooking gas . This is the best alternative for most families
” Now that we have a central body some of the challenges would be tackled. We will move fast in the areas of afforestation. We will be ready to plant , but government should also make sure those doing timber business should also plant ,” he said.
Speaking, Mr Jude Amalunweze who represented the Director , Commodities and Export Department Federal Ministry of Industry Trade and Investment says that charcoal export contributes to Nigerian economy, generate foreign exchange, create employment and wealth.
According to him it is worrisome to note that fortunes of the industry which is one of the foreign earners for the country has dwindled in recent times due to suspension on charcoal and deforestation issues associated with the subsector .
He added Nigeria was the second largest exporter of charcoal in the world and first in Africa stressing that in 2018 the global earning in charcoal amounted to $24.2b.
” He said” As at 2020, Brazil , Nigeria and Ethiopia produced 6.3 m metric tons, 4.8 and 4.7 metric tons and shared 29percent of the global production. Nigeria took the 4th position as the global largest exporter with $75.7m in 2019.
He added that it was in view of the above that the ministry foresaw the need to harness potential in the charcoal subsector.
According to him, by bringing together the relevant players in charcoal business and ensuring that stakeholders embark on aggressive and afforestation program would help address all the challenges that will negatively affect the subsector.
“It is also important to note that today’s meeting is a continuation of the discussion for the modalities of a national umbrella association to coordinate the issues of the subsector with the relevant MDAs.
“The ministry is fully committed to providing the enabling environment to position the charcoal business to compete favourably both locally and on international market,” he said.
He , therefore commended the stakeholders for coming to collaborate with the ministry in delivering of the mandate to support the present administration economic diversification agenda .