The Federal Government has launched a 10-year forest investment plan aimed at mobilising about $1 billion in blended finance, restoring two million hectares of degraded forests and creating 1.5 million green jobs across Nigeria.
The initiative, known as the Securing Nigeria’s Forest Future (SNFF) Country Package, is designed to strengthen forest restoration, protect biodiversity, support climate action and create sustainable economic opportunities for communities across the country.
The framework also targets a 20 per cent reduction in deforestation and improved climate resilience for more than five million Nigerians. Government officials say the programme will promote sustainable forest-based livelihoods while encouraging greater participation by young people and women in the emerging green economy.
Speaking at the launch in Abuja, Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, described the SNFF framework as a national platform for coordinating Nigeria’s forest restoration, biodiversity conservation, climate initiatives and investment priorities over the next decade.
The minister noted that Nigeria’s forests are facing increasing pressure from agricultural expansion, unsustainable exploitation of natural resources and rapid urbanisation.
He stressed that the country could no longer depend on fragmented interventions to address the challenges affecting its forest resources.
According to the Federal Government, achieving the ambitious targets will require collaboration among federal and state governments, local communities, private investors, development partners, civil society organisations and financial institutions.
The government is also seeking stronger private-sector participation, recognising that public funding alone may not be sufficient to finance forest restoration on the scale required.
Under the framework, Nigeria intends to strengthen opportunities for private investment, blended finance and carbon finance, while developing forest-based businesses and value chains capable of generating income for local communities.
The planned creation of 1.5 million green jobs could provide opportunities in areas such as forest restoration, conservation, sustainable agriculture, forestry value chains and other environmentally focused activities.
Beyond job creation, the programme is expected to contribute to Nigeria’s broader climate and environmental objectives by restoring degraded landscapes, protecting ecosystems and helping vulnerable communities cope with the effects of climate change.
However, the Federal Government has acknowledged that the success of the plan will depend on implementation. The environment ministry said progress must ultimately be measured by actual restoration, investment mobilisation, job creation, stronger technical capacity and accountability.
If successfully implemented, the $1 billion forest investment plan could turn environmental protection into a major source of employment and economic opportunity while helping Nigeria build greater resilience against climate-related challenges.