Shettima raises alarm over Nigeria’s forest depletion

…says over 90% of original forest depleted

…Netzence contributing technology to unlock 2 billion dollars of nation’s forest — Sani

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru

ABUJA — THE Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, on Monday, issued a detailed warning about the critical state of Nigeria’s forests and its dire economic implications.

This is as the Founder/CEO of Netzence sustainability limited (Netzence), Dr. Sadiq Sani has given the country an assurance that it is using technology to unlock the over two billion dollars of potentials in the forest sector.

Speaking while declaring open the Nigeria Forest Economy Summit 2025 with the theme: “Sustainability of Nigeria’s Forests: Unlocking the $2 billion potentials for economic and financial inclusion” at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Senator Shettima said, “more than 90 percent of Nigeria’s original forest cover has been depleted, and over 400,000 hectares lost annually. This is not just an environmental crisis; it is an economic emergency.”

The Vice President at the summit organised by the Presidential Committee on Economic and Financial Inclusion(PreCEFI) Secretariat, was represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Hadejia.

He stressed that the country is at a crossroads and that neglecting forest resources directly impoverishes the nation and its people

He said: “We cannot underestimate the importance of our forests. They are a treasure trove of biodiversity, timber, medicinal plants, and other valuable products that underpin agriculture, trade, health, climate resilience, and finance. Yet this vast potential remains largely untapped.”

Speaking on the global opportunities Nigeria risks missing if it fails to act decisively, he said: “Look at Vietnam, earning over $15 billion yearly from forest exports. Brazil’s Amazon contributes 15 percent of their GDP from forests alone. Ethiopia has generated 350,000 jobs through reforestation and value chains. Nigeria should not only replicate these successes but lead Africa’s forest industrialization.

“Ignoring this challenge is not an option. Our forests’ depletion threatens economic stability, livelihoods, and our global trading position. The European Union’s upcoming regulations forbid imports from products sourced on lands deforested within five years.

“Nigeria risks losing access if we do not embrace sustainable forest management now.” 

Shettima called for innovation and inclusion, saying: “Embedding financial services in forest-based livelihoods will improve credit access, savings, insurance, and digital tools — crucial for the 30 million Nigerians who remain financially excluded, especially women and girls.”

He envisioned a future where “eco-industrial parks dedicated to bamboo, shea butter, medicinal plants, and carbon verification emerge as economic pillars,” further urging, “Let us turn trees into trillions and forests into futures. This summit must be remembered not as just another policy dialogue, but as a turning point where we invest, innovate, and industrialize our forest economy for sustainable national progress.”

Founder and CEO of Netzence, Dr. Sani, who was one of the key speakers at the event, said his company is contributing to provide technology to unlock over two billion dollars from the nation’s forestry.

According to him, “Netzence is contributing to providing the technology needed to unlock the potential of our $2 billion for Nigerian forestry. Our goal is to provide technology that allows us to measure emissions—the greenhouse gases (GHG) in our environment—and see how we can realize carbon credits for the environment as well. That is our fundamental aim through our proprietary  technology CloseCarbon.”

On how to achieve it, Sani said: “We are using our technology built for the forestry environment. We’re currently building models regarding forest composition and decomposition.

“This lets us understand emissions and greenhouse gas levels in the forestry environment, and also the amount of carbon credit it can realize. We are combining our technologies to build models that give us a true picture of emissions and their value in that environment.”

Fielding question on whether there is any form of partnership between Netzence sustainability limited and the Federal Government, the CEO, who is also one of the panelists at the summit said:

“Absolutely, we are currently working with the Federal Government across the presidency and several ministries, like Federal Ministry of Livestock Development and Ministry of Environment, plus agencies under Ministry of Environment etc. Together, we analyse the composition of greenhouse gases and monetize carbon credits in these environments.”

He further said: “It’s not just about the environment—the impact is economic, societal, for the people and in knowledge. We can’t do this without the support of government and stakeholders across economic sectors.” 

Technical advisor to the President on Economic and Financial Inclusion and Secretary of the Presidential Committee on Economic and Financial Inclusion (PRICIFI), Nurudeen Zauro, gave an insight on the broader government vision.

He said: “One part of Mr. President’s agenda is inclusivity. PRICIFI’s duty is to identify untapped opportunities—areas that have been silent—and unlock them so we can achieve this goal.

“The essence of this meeting is to unlock economic potentials that exist in our borders. That’s why we brought together the ecosystem, the Border Community Development Agency, WEN Synergy, and local and international stakeholders—to expose the potential of our forests for sustainable economic and financial inclusion, in line with Mr. President’s renewed economic agenda.”

Executive Secretary of the Border Communities Development Agency, George Kelly, spoke on the wealth of Nigeria’s Forests, saying, “Nigeria has over 10.6 million hectares of forest—natural, planted, and reserves. We’re looking to convert that to wealth rather than let it go to waste, through carbon financing.

“The potential is more than $2 billion annually. Properly managed, it could approach $5.3 to $10.5 billion, even up to $6 billion annually. That kind of revenue can fund several states. If we unlock that, we’ll achieve meaningful economic and financial inclusion at the rural and sub-national levels, lifting communities out of poverty. That is what we are aiming for.

“The next step is to bring together all government agencies related to forestry to get more precise data and take action on this opportunity.”Chairman of Wen Synergies Nigeria Limited and fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Architects, Danny Sokari, emphasised the purpose of the summit:

He said: “The awareness about how to generate that $2 billion is not yet there—not visibly. Maybe the current approach to the green agenda needs adjusting. That’s why WEN Synergy organized this summit: to raise consciousness, bring in stakeholders, and collectively ask, ‘What can we do?’

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