A study conducted by Bayero University Kano (BUK) in collaboration with the University of York and University College London has revealed that 94.4% of households in Kaduna and Nasarawa States, including rural and semi-urban areas of the FCT, use fuelwood for cooking. The study also highlighted that Nigeria lost 17,400km² of its forest to deforestation between 2000 and 2020, which is approximately five times the size of Lagos State.
Speaking at the final workshop to present the research report, the Dean of the Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Bayero University Kano, Prof. Aliyu Barau, expressed concern over the rapid depletion of Nigeria's forests. He emphasized the need to address the issue, stating that 95.8% of households surveyed would use cleaner fuels if they were available and affordable.
Prof. Barau highlighted the challenges faced by local communities, including lack of knowledge and skills to manage resources, ignorance of government policies on environmental safeguards, and exploitation of women in fuelwood and charcoal production. He also mentioned the detrimental effects of deforestation on biodiversity, citing examples of threatened species being hunted for bushmeat.
In response to the study's findings, the Emir of Nasarawa, Ibrahim Jibrin, emphasized the importance of environmental conservation and urged everyone to utilize available materials for producing and utilizing clean energy.
