Mustapha Suleiman
2 July 2009
Abuja — Nigeria's forest resources have been recognised as having enormous potentials to contribute to poverty alleviation, sustainable livelihood of the rural people and mitigating effects of climate change.
This was contained in a keynote address by the minister of Environment Mr. John Odey at the stakeholders meeting on EFO - Funded National Afforestation Programme of which he is the Chairman, held in Abuja recently.
Odey noted that statistic have shown that Nigeria is experiencing an annual rate of about 3.5 percent, adding that it is an alarming situation which require collective and decisive action.
He identified deforestation as one of the three major environmental problems facing Nigeria, mentioning soil degradation and water contamination as other interrelated environmental problem next to it.
Speaking on the need for the stakeholders meeting, he said: "undoubtedly, any meaningful discussion aimed at achieving environmental and social economic objectives of a national Afforestation programme would require inputs from managers, researchers ,policy makers, development partners and other end user of goods and services emanating from grassland and forestry resources .
"Thus, you have been invited today to identify and develop ways that synergy can be built among relevant stakeholders for the attainment of the laudable goals of this government initiative. By so doing, government is involving all relevant stakeholders in the planning and implementation process for the programme."
He expressed optimism that the professional and expert discussions will focus on harmonising all proposals already received, saying it will help chart a new roadmap for successful strategisation and implementation of the programme nation-wide.
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