Nigeria's Deadly Obsession with Charcoal Farming

The Charcoal Industry in Nigeria: A Complex Web of Economic Necessity and Environmental Crisis

Charcoal farming has emerged as a significant but largely unregulated industry in Nigeria, driven by both local and international demand. What was once a small-scale rural activity has now transformed into a multimillion-naira business, supporting the livelihoods of thousands across several states, including Oyo, Niger, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Nasarawa, Kaduna, Kogi, Enugu, and Ogun.

Rural farmers, informal cooperatives, and middlemen are the primary participants in this trade. Many villagers venture deep into forest reserves to cut trees, often illegally, which are then processed into charcoal using slow-burning techniques in earthen kilns. Once bagged, the charcoal is sold to aggregators who distribute it to local markets or export it in bulk, particularly to countries in Europe and the Middle East.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation, Nigeria ranks among the top global producers of charcoal, with over one million metric tonnes produced annually. This production fuels both domestic and foreign markets, contributing significantly to the country’s economy. However, the industry's rapid growth has raised serious environmental concerns.

Export Boom and Consumer Markets

Despite a 2018 ban on the export of charcoal and wood products, enforcement has been weak. Smuggling routes through neighboring countries like Benin Republic allow large quantities of charcoal to leave Nigeria weekly. Exporters have resorted to disguising the product under agricultural produce documentation or bribing officials to facilitate its transport.

Local demand for charcoal is also increasing due to erratic power supply and the high cost of cooking gas. Urban households, food vendors, and even restaurants prefer charcoal as a more affordable and reliable energy source. This dual market continues to drive mass deforestation, threatening Nigeria’s natural resources.

How Charcoal Farming Works

Charcoal farming sustains entire rural ecosystems. Informal producers, including smallholder farmers, local cooperatives, and middlemen, harvest trees—often from private farms, farmland cleared for seasonal fallow, or naturally fallen trees—and convert them into charcoal using traditional or improved kilns. The product is then distributed through a network of vendors and markets.

Families use this income to supplement their earnings, paying for school fees or healthcare expenses. Association leaders, such as the National Charcoal Producers, Dealers, Exporters and Afforestation Association of Nigeria, argue that much of the raw material comes from legally sourced wood, including approved plantations or private holdings. They emphasize that the industry is moving toward regulated traceability, challenging claims of blanket illegality.

Health Risks vs. Practical Gains

The human cost of charcoal use is undeniable. The World Health Organisation estimates that household smoke from biomass fuels is among the leading causes of early death in Nigeria, accounting for nearly 95,000 deaths per year and contributing to respiratory illnesses, especially among women and children. Yet, until cleaner energy becomes broadly affordable, families have little choice.

Environmentalists like Emmanuel Eleri stress the need for expanding clean alternatives through subsidies, particularly for LPG and improved cookstoves. Rural communities require support to make the switch not only lighter on their wallets but also healthier in practice.

Charcoal Trade Threat to Ecosystem

The Federal Government has identified the charcoal trade as a threat to forest sustainability and livelihoods. During a stakeholders’ dialogue on charcoal production and forest conservation, Dr Aishetu Ndayako, Permanent Secretary of the Ecological Project Office, highlighted the severe environmental consequences of the largely informal and weakly regulated trade, including deforestation, ecosystem collapse, and biodiversity loss.

She emphasized the need for harmonizing national policies on forest and biomass energy while strengthening enforcement agencies to regulate charcoal production and trade. Sustainable forestry requires active participation from local communities, with incentives for tree planting, agroforestry, and community-managed woodlots.

Economic Reality, Energy Desperation

Across Nigeria, charcoal is not seen as a luxury. For many, it has become a lifeline. With frequent power outages, erratic electricity, and soaring LPG prices, charcoal remains the most practical fuel for millions of families. A kilogram of gas ranges between N900 to N1400 in Lagos, which may be beyond the reach of low-income earners, forcing many to rely on cheaper alternatives like charcoal.

Unprotected labour is another concern. Reports reveal that children, women, and vulnerable populations are involved in the charcoal-making process, facing high exposure to smoke inhalation and heat. Without access to protective gear, these workers risk long-term health issues.

Policy Gaps, Regulatory Failure

Although several Nigerian states have forestry departments, enforcement remains inadequate. Loggers and charcoal producers often bribe their way past local authorities, with some officials complicit in exchange for bribes. The 2018 ban on exports has done little to curb the trade due to lack of political will, poor monitoring infrastructure, and corruption.

Analysts argue that the government must move beyond bans and create sustainable alternatives through regulated afforestation programmes and clean energy incentives.

What Can Be Done

Experts advocate for a multi-pronged approach. Legalising and regulating charcoal production through licensing, environmental impact assessments, and community-led afforestation projects could help. Nigeria can emulate countries like Kenya and Ghana, where sustainable charcoal production is gaining traction through modern kilns and replanting efforts.

Investment in clean energy sources such as LPG, solar cookers, and briquettes made from agricultural waste could provide alternative fuel sources. Subsidies, awareness campaigns, and distribution infrastructure are critical to mainstreaming these alternatives.

Empowering rural communities with education and economic incentives to preserve their forests could drastically reduce illegal logging. Experts agree that a balance must be struck between livelihoods and environmental preservation.

Conclusion

The charcoal industry in Nigeria reflects a complex interplay of economic necessity and environmental crisis. While it provides livelihoods for many, it also threatens the country’s forests and public health. Addressing these challenges requires a combination of policy reform, investment in clean energy, and community engagement. Only through sustained effort can Nigeria achieve a sustainable future that balances economic development with environmental protection.