FG bans wood, charcoal exportation

[Trade facilitator]

THE Federal Government has banned wood and charcoal exportation, following exporters’ refusal to adhere to the directive of cut-one plant-two policy. The Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Export Promotion Council, NEPC, Mr. Olusegun Awolowo, disclosed this at the just-concluded two-day retreat organised by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation, UNIDO, at the Free Trade Zone, Onne, Rivers State, for the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and its agencies. Awolowo told Vanguard that the new directive had thrown exporters of charcoal into confusion as some of them had existing agreements with their partners abroad. He said government must explain the reason for the move, adding “I just got that circular; this is part of the policy somersault we are talking about. “How can the government ban charcoal when people have been processing it? They did not even carry exporters along.” Also confirming the development, Customs Public Relations Officer of Tin Can Island Port, Mr. Chris Osunkwo, said they were aware of the ban, adding that they were, however, waiting for the memorandum. Commenting on the development, Mr. Giovani Locano, General Manager, China Shipping, told Vanguard that he was not aware of the fact that charcoal had been banned. Although, Locano supported the decision of government to ban wood and charcoal exportation, he called for a more proactive approach so that peoples’ businesses are not affected. Osunkwo explained that wood and charcoal were banned because the exporters of these items failed to meet up with the agreement they had with the government on tree planting.

Source: www.vanguardngr.com/2016/05/fg-bans-wood-charcoal-exportation/

[chineduaruh]

Some of us have existing contracts already. Ant ideas if this ban would be lifted soon?

[Trade facilitator]

It may be lifted, but I advise you let your buyer aware of this. You should also make serious effort to diversify.

Thank you.

[themasters]

Should the federal government ban charcoal and timber export just like that? These are products being traded around the world. Why should it be different in Nigeria?
What is the response of the exporters of these products? Or are they just acquiescing to the unilateral ban?
Knowing that livelihoods are at stake here, charcoal and timber exporters should vehemently protest this action to get the government to rescind the ban.
Thank you.

[onoti9]

Can somebody let me know, when the ban is lifted

[Trade facilitator]

Keep monitoring this thread.

[themasters]

Wonder if exporters of these banned products have a common platform or association through which they can come together to articulate views and resist the ban.

[timothyayantola2016]

Federal Govt need to reverse that decision not to increase unemployment in the country also there is need for public to demonstrate against unpopular policy like this.

[Trade facilitator]

May 26, 2016 13:35:31 GMT 1 themasters said:

Wonder if exporters of these banned products have a common platform or association through which they can come together to articulate views and resist the ban.

There is no formidable group. There are only charcoal merchants associations in the local settings. I understand these merchants are on their way to Abuja this morning.

[Trade facilitator]

May 26, 2016 13:44:07 GMT 1 timothyayantola2016 said:

Federal Govt need to reverse that decision not to increase unemployment in the country also there is need for public to demonstrate against unpopular policy like this.

Spread the news about this discussion, when it goes viral it should surely help.

[questacumen]

Ban or no ban...it is a matter of policy. Apart from the issue of unemployment that will accompany this ban as attendant effects, one would have expected that Nigeria would have gone past fire brigade approach to policies without thinking of the after effect. The interesting thing there is that the policy came because of non-compliance. A government should be able to drive compliance without compounding the economic woes on ground with policy somersault.

[michael]

This issue whenever i look at the comments of individuals on this i get confused and feel sad, this is simply because i only see people that are concerned only about their own profits and the impact of the ban on their pockets and financial standing but the truth being told, what is the reason behind the ban and why should we think outside the box for a solution? the fact s that if we continue with the way we are going we will get to a time there will be no tree to fell for charcoal and to export as kosso or hardwood again, and by that time the sahara desert would have extended to the shores of atlantic in Lagos.
We should not only think about making profit now but we should also ask in the next 25years, is this process sustainable? am i harvesting the resources of the earth with a view to allow the next generation coming to have something to harvest too and to also give to those coming behind them? Honestly we need to appreciate the fact that Climate change is real and we are facing the consequences of not planning for it ahead of time.
Now that the ban is n place what should we do?
1. We can Come together as a group, present a proposal on making government reverse the ban, by proposing how to plant some back as a replacement for what we are constantly harvesting. we can get international funding for this if we are serious because it is to serve the environment for the common good.
2. We could switch to making briquettes from saw dust and packaging same for export. in Europe and other places, the people that import charcoal also import briquettes from saw dust.
3. We could swich to briquetting other form of biomass in our clime that we don't have use for. the reason why we are still the way we are is that we believe in doing only what we know how to do without any plan to modify and improve as the world is improving. I can assure you that we can get CDM funding for these projects that can help us mitigate the impact of climate change on us.
If we dont take steps now and articulate our steps critically and see the opportunity in the ban, we shall just be wailing upon nothing. We need to appreciate the benefits to us and the future generations n the ban. I know very well that China and Vietnam don't fell their own trees the way we do here and offer us peanuts for what they make a lot from...A word is enough for the wise.

[godoluode]

Few months ago I spoke to a friend about this but never knew its going to be so soon. I told him I hope we won't wake up one day to see that Nigeria exists without trees. A lot of wood processors/dealers/exporters do not care about d environmental hazards of falling ds trees. What stops them from replacing two trees for every one fell. Its not always about profit today but also securing future for d next generation. Govt shd ensure that a monitoring agency is established that will issue clearance certificate for every tree processor having fulfilled govt demands iro d planting of trees before lifting d ban.

[Trade facilitator]

I don`t think the problem is the exporters, thus there is no formidable association of charcoal exporters, but there are associations of charcoal merchants that together with the local authorities like Obas and Baales who collect a fee called THREE PLANTS for every container loaded in the rural areas, these collections I don`t think go to government purse. Reason, while exporters need formidable group to ensure the fees paid are utilize in this replanting of new trees.

[Trade facilitator]

Good day,

Base on avaliable information at our disposal lately, charcoal exportation is still going on.Some shipping lines that refused to issue booking for containers when the news broke out are now releasing containers for charcoal export.

Thanks.