Nigeria Risks Losing Forests by 2050 as Nation Faces 4 Million Hectares Lost Annually to Deforestation

Nigeria is currently losing an estimated four million hectares of forestland each year due to deforestation, raising alarm over the country’s environmental future. This concern was highlighted by Anita Edo-Osagie, Deputy General Manager, Corporate Business Relations and Stakeholder Engagement at First Exploration and Petroleum Development Company Limited, during the launch of the Afforestation Livelihood Enhancement Carbon Sequestration (ALEC) Project in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

The five-year ALEC Project is a collaborative effort between NNPCL/First E&P, the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), and the Bayelsa State Government. It aims to plant 550,000 trees across 11 KEFFESO communities in Brass and Southern Ijaw LGAs, to reverse forest loss and promote climate resilience. Edo-Osagie emphasized that Nigeria ranks among countries with the highest deforestation rates globally, attributing the decline to unsustainable logging, agriculture, and urbanization. She warned that with up to 80% of forest cover already lost, the country could face total forest depletion by 2050, including the destruction of vital mangrove ecosystems and the extinction of over 300 threatened species.

Edo-Osagie described the project’s phased approach: year one will focus on seedling development, followed by tree planting over the next three years. The ALEC initiative also includes components for biodiversity restoration, sustainable livelihoods, participatory forest management, and environmental policy advocacy. It seeks to integrate community knowledge with scientific practices to build long-term conservation capacity, especially among women and youth.

Prof. Nimibofa Ayawei, Secretary to the Bayelsa State Government, said the initiative aligns with state efforts to combat systemic deforestation, particularly in mangrove areas. He stressed the importance of replanting trees to replace those felled. Representing the NCF, Adedamola Ogunsesa noted the project’s broader goals of reducing carbon emissions, enhancing community welfare, and preserving natural habitats. The project also includes fully funded livelihood programs such as piggery and poultry farming. King Theophilus Moses, speaking on behalf of the KEFFESO communities, pledged their commitment to sustaining the project after its completion.