Abuja: Mr. Ebenezer Akarah, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Bricks to Crib Company, has called on the Federal Government to prioritize the charcoal industry, advocating for it to receive attention similar to that given to the oil and gas sector. Akarah made this appeal during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Akarah emphasized the potential of the charcoal industry if it were given the same level of seriousness as crude oil, suggesting that production quotas, export benchmarks, and a national revenue allocation formula could greatly benefit the sector. He noted that while the oil sector is meticulously regulated under the Petroleum Industry Act, the charcoal industry suffers from poor communication and enforcement, leading to an underground trade rather than sustainable growth.
Akarah highlighted the need for a structured framework within the charcoal industry, pointing out that while cocoa and gas have clear ecosystems and policy blueprints, charcoal remains largely informal. He mentioned the existence of the National Charcoal Producers, Dealers, Exporters and Afforestation Association of Nigeria (NACPDEAN) but stressed the absence of enforceable standards and a value chain that could transform charcoal into a national asset.
He pointed out that other African countries like Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Namibia have successfully integrated charcoal into their economic frameworks, unlike Nigeria where it remains in regulatory limbo. Currently, charcoal is under the Ministry of Environment for licensing, but lacks a dedicated policy framework or regulatory clarity.
Akarah proposed that by adopting models from other African nations, Nigeria could properly integrate charcoal into sectors such as forestry, energy, or agriculture, thereby promoting sustainable forestry, creating rural jobs, and strengthening environmental governance in key producing states like Kogi, Kwara, Oyo, and Nasarawa.