SEO Riders:
– Nigeria untapped bamboo potential
– Bamboo’s ecological and economic benefits Nigeria
– Climate-smart bamboo cultivation experts
Environmental and economic experts in Nigeria are urging urgent action to unlock the country’s vast yet underutilised bamboo resources. Despite the plant’s ability to sequester significantly more carbon than traditional trees, restore degraded soil, and mature within three to five years, structured cultivation and commercial use remain minimal across the country.
Chief John Ajie Ogwu of the Bamboo and Rattan Association of Nigeria (BARFAN) highlighted the lack of awareness among farmers and insufficient government support, warning that the environmental and livelihood benefits of bamboo continue to go unrealised. Without policy support, research, and incentives, Nigeria risks missing out on bamboo’s potential for rural job creation, erosion control, and climate resilience.