Nigeria loses nearly 300 hectares of forest daily

Nigeria is losing approximately 300 hectares of forest reserve every day, according to Ibrahim Goni, the Conservator-General of the National Park Service (NPS). During a meeting with the Environmental Media Correspondents Association of Nigeria (EMCAN) in Abuja, Goni warned that illegal logging, mining, wildlife trafficking, hunting, banditry, and kidnapping are severely undermining conservation efforts.

Goni highlighted that the destruction of forests could accelerate desertification and worsen environmental degradation. He noted that the interconnected nature of Nigeria’s forests allows criminal elements to move into adjoining reserves when security operations target specific areas. To combat these threats, the NPS has collaborated with the Nigerian Army to close illegal mining sites in Gashaka-Gumti National Park, which displaced over 4,000 miners.

Regarding wildlife crime, Goni stated that Nigeria serves as a significant transit route for smugglers moving specimens from Chad, Niger, and Cameroon to seaports. An inter-agency committee involving the Customs Service, NPS, NESREA, and the Nigeria Police Force has been formed to conduct raids and seizures. Nigeria currently has 17 national parks, with 13 being operational, an increase from seven prior to the establishment of 10 additional parks under the previous administration.