FCT
Safeguarding Abuja's Forests and Biodiversity
The Mandate Secretary of the Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat in the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Comrade Abdullahi Suleiman Ango, has reaffirmed the Administration’s commitment to safeguarding the natural environment, emphasizing that the development of a Sustainable Forest Management Policy remains a top priority.
Ango made this known while addressing stakeholders at the validation workshop for the FCT Forest, Wildlife, and Biodiversity Policy and draft Act. The workshop, a key part of a comprehensive process that began in 2024, was organized by Vakoson Consulting Limited in collaboration with the FCT ACReSAL Project and the FCT Administration.
He described forests as essential “life-support system,” stressing that their preservation is no longer optional but a necessity. "It is therefore no longer a matter of choice, but an absolute necessity, that we conserve and pay more attention to their effective management ans sustainability with the deserved urgency and foresight,” Ango asserted.
He assured that the FCT Administration, under the leadership of Barrister Nyesom Wike and Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, is committed to transforming Abuja into a world-class city and will give the final forest policy document expeditious attention once it is validated and formally presented.
In her welcome address, the FCT ACReSAL Project Coordinator, Mrs. Caroline Opara, framed the workshop as the "culmination of a meticulous and exhaustive process" that began in 2024. She emphasized the critical need for the policy, stating, "This policy... is of utmost importance to the FCT Administration, to ensure the sustainable management of forest resources." She pointed to the intense pressure on the environment, noting that "as one of the fastest growing cities in the world, there are so many activities driving deforestation." Mrs. Opara regretted that the consequences of past inaction and ineffective legislation are already visible, manifesting in "increased desert encroachment, loss of fertile land, biodiversity extinction and more severe climate impacts."
She also acknowledged the pivotal role of the World Bank-funded ACReSAL project, which is not only facilitating the policy's development but is also already implementing critical on-ground interventions, which includes the reclamation of the Kuje Forest plantation and fencing of forests in Gwagwa and Ushafa to prevent encroachment as well as the implementation of the FAO land restoration initiative at the College of Education, Zuba .
Participants at the workshop hailed the initiative, describing it as a critical and timely intervention. According to Musa Shuaibu, Expert Advisor on Landscape Restoration and Wetland Management at the Federal Project Management Unit (FPMU), the policy will finally provide the necessary legal backing to safeguard the forest resources of the FCT. "As you are aware, before now, the FCT had no dedicated policy to safeguard the natural resources in these vegetations," Shuaibu stated. He expressed confidence that "the document that is being developed will be a living document that will enhance sustainable forest management in the FCT."
The Lead Consultant from Vakoson Limited, Barrister Sylvester Okonufua, outlined the rigorous process behind the draft and validation meeting. “Following a comprehensive review of existing frameworks, we embarked on extensive stakeholder consultations, held a series of technical review meetings, went to the field to conduct interviews, produced the first draft, reviewed it, produced a second draft, and then met with the Legal Secretariat of the FCT Administration,” he explained. “We are confident that the resulting policy and Act are comprehensive, inclusive, actionable and specifically tailored to address the unique challenges of the FCT.”
lhaji Mohammad Garba Boyi, Zonal Coordinator of the National Conservation Foundation, shared his view, stating, “We as a civil society organisation are delighted by the level of commitment of the FCTA and the ACReSAL Project. We see this as a step forward, especially given the extensive damage to our forests.” He emphasized that “What is essential now is robust legislation to protect our trees and wildlife for generations to come.”
The two-day validation workshop concluded on a high note, with participants unanimously renewing their commitment to ensuring the success of the initiative and emphasizing the need for strong political will to see the policy implemented effectively in the FCT.
Ango made this known while addressing stakeholders at the validation workshop for the FCT Forest, Wildlife, and Biodiversity Policy and draft Act. The workshop, a key part of a comprehensive process that began in 2024, was organized by Vakoson Consulting Limited in collaboration with the FCT ACReSAL Project and the FCT Administration.
He described forests as essential “life-support system,” stressing that their preservation is no longer optional but a necessity. "It is therefore no longer a matter of choice, but an absolute necessity, that we conserve and pay more attention to their effective management ans sustainability with the deserved urgency and foresight,” Ango asserted.
He assured that the FCT Administration, under the leadership of Barrister Nyesom Wike and Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, is committed to transforming Abuja into a world-class city and will give the final forest policy document expeditious attention once it is validated and formally presented.
In her welcome address, the FCT ACReSAL Project Coordinator, Mrs. Caroline Opara, framed the workshop as the "culmination of a meticulous and exhaustive process" that began in 2024. She emphasized the critical need for the policy, stating, "This policy... is of utmost importance to the FCT Administration, to ensure the sustainable management of forest resources." She pointed to the intense pressure on the environment, noting that "as one of the fastest growing cities in the world, there are so many activities driving deforestation." Mrs. Opara regretted that the consequences of past inaction and ineffective legislation are already visible, manifesting in "increased desert encroachment, loss of fertile land, biodiversity extinction and more severe climate impacts."
She also acknowledged the pivotal role of the World Bank-funded ACReSAL project, which is not only facilitating the policy's development but is also already implementing critical on-ground interventions, which includes the reclamation of the Kuje Forest plantation and fencing of forests in Gwagwa and Ushafa to prevent encroachment as well as the implementation of the FAO land restoration initiative at the College of Education, Zuba .
Participants at the workshop hailed the initiative, describing it as a critical and timely intervention. According to Musa Shuaibu, Expert Advisor on Landscape Restoration and Wetland Management at the Federal Project Management Unit (FPMU), the policy will finally provide the necessary legal backing to safeguard the forest resources of the FCT. "As you are aware, before now, the FCT had no dedicated policy to safeguard the natural resources in these vegetations," Shuaibu stated. He expressed confidence that "the document that is being developed will be a living document that will enhance sustainable forest management in the FCT."
The Lead Consultant from Vakoson Limited, Barrister Sylvester Okonufua, outlined the rigorous process behind the draft and validation meeting. “Following a comprehensive review of existing frameworks, we embarked on extensive stakeholder consultations, held a series of technical review meetings, went to the field to conduct interviews, produced the first draft, reviewed it, produced a second draft, and then met with the Legal Secretariat of the FCT Administration,” he explained. “We are confident that the resulting policy and Act are comprehensive, inclusive, actionable and specifically tailored to address the unique challenges of the FCT.”
lhaji Mohammad Garba Boyi, Zonal Coordinator of the National Conservation Foundation, shared his view, stating, “We as a civil society organisation are delighted by the level of commitment of the FCTA and the ACReSAL Project. We see this as a step forward, especially given the extensive damage to our forests.” He emphasized that “What is essential now is robust legislation to protect our trees and wildlife for generations to come.”
The two-day validation workshop concluded on a high note, with participants unanimously renewing their commitment to ensuring the success of the initiative and emphasizing the need for strong political will to see the policy implemented effectively in the FCT.