Abuja – The Processed Wood Producers and Marketers Association of Nigeria (PROWPMAN) has urged governments at all levels to review tree felling policies in the country, to meet international best practices.
The President of the association, Mr Christopher Oyalake, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Friday.
Oyalake expressed dissatisfaction that tree planting was not being accorded the needed attention.
He, therefore, appealed to the Federal Government to mandate states as well as local governments to budget funds for tree planting, to encourage afforestation.
“I want to appeal to governments at all levels to put some policies in place so as to mandate all the states to plant trees every year.
“We are consuming every day; so, we need to replace.’’
The president said that the association, in its efforts to encourage tree planting, was planning a massive tree planting exercise in selected states of the country.
He said that wood business was capable of generating millions of employment for the teeming youths and increase forex in the country.
Oyalake, however, urged the government to also formulate environmental policies that would enhance wood processing in the country. (NAN)