The Federal Government has begun developing a bamboo processing factory in Kogi State to offer a sustainable alternative to tree felling and promote responsible forest use

[dropcap]I[/dropcap]n a significant move towards promoting sustainable forest management and providing viable alternatives to tree felling, the Federal Government has initiated the development of a bamboo processing factory in Kogi State.

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The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, announced this initiative during the seventh edition of the 2025 ministerial press briefing held in Abuja on Wednesday.

He emphasized that bamboo offers a compelling substitute for trees, serving as a sustainable source for cooking fuel and various other products.

Minister Lawal explained, “People need trees for cooking, and to give people an alternative to trees, the best alternative we have for trees is bamboo. Bamboo is a grass, but it grows to be a tree. Whatever a tree can do, bamboo can do it.”

He further stated, “The Ministry has commenced implementation of a Bamboo development factory in Kogi State to promote Bamboo and Rattan Economy in Nigeria in line with the diversification drive of the Renewed Hope Administration.

Feasibility studies for the development of seven more Bamboo factories are ongoing in Ogun, Cross Rivers, Kaduna, Edo, Benue, Ekiti and Taraba States.”

Minister Lawal also noted that the Department of Forestry recently received and handed over 11 20-feet containers of logs (semi-processed wood) that were intercepted and confiscated by the Nigeria Customs Service.

In addition to the bamboo initiative, the government has launched agroforestry projects and other programs aimed at integrating agriculture into forest management practices across the nation.

“People need trees for cooking, and to give people an alternative to trees, the best alternative we have for trees is bamboo. Whatever a tree can do, bamboo can do it,” said Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal.

Furthermore, the Minister highlighted the ongoing efforts of the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW) in implementing afforestation, reforestation, and sustainable land management projects across the 11 frontline northern states in the Sahel region, which are particularly vulnerable to desert encroachment.

He detailed some of the agency’s key achievements, including the raising of 3,850,000 Neem seedlings for establishing plant nurseries, the establishment of 175km of shelterbelts, vocational trainings for youth and women, and the raising of 5 million date palm seedlings for value chain development.

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The NAGGW has also established five skill acquisition centers, distributed mini solar systems and solar street lights, and provided improved cooking stoves and solar-powered pumps to discourage deforestation and promote agroforestry in rural communities.