Nigeria backs FAO push for deforestation-free finance in food systems 

Nigeria has thrown its weight behind the Food and Agriculture Organisation’s (FAO) push for deforestation-free finance, signalling a major step towards embedding sustainability into the country’s food systems.

The endorsement, made at a two-day workshop organised by FAO in Lagos recently, with the theme ‘Advancing Deforestation-Free Finance in Nigeria’s Banking Sector: From Roadmap to Implementation,’ underscores Nigeria’s commitment to tackling the intertwined challenges of environmental degradation, climate change, and food insecurity.

The FAO initiative aims to mobilise financial institutions, governments, and businesses to prioritise investments that avoid deforestation and promote sustainable agriculture.

It seek to promote integrated landscape management, sustainable food systems, biodiversity conservation, and restoration of degraded ecosystems, particularly within cocoa and oil palm-producing landscapes in Nigeria.

Hussein Gadain, FAO representative in Nigeria and Economic Community of West African States, said the workshop is to drive deforestation-free finance in Nigeria from dialogue to implementation.

“Deforestation-free finance is not only an environmental imperative; it is increasingly becoming an economic and market necessity.” “Global buyers, investors, and consumers are demanding greater transparency and sustainability in commodity supply chains.”

Gadain noted that financial institutions that adapt proactively will be better positioned to manage risks, unlock investment opportunities, and strengthen long-term competitiveness.

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According to him, Nigeria has the potential to become a regional leader in sustainable and deforestation-free agricultural finance, especially in the cocoa and oil palm sectors.

He noted that FAO, through the Food Systems, Land Use and Restoration Impact Programme (FOLUR) initiative and other interventions, the UN food agency will continue to support Nigeria in strengthening sustainable commodity value chains, integrated landscape management, biodiversity conservation, climate resilience and sustainable agricultural finance systems.

Malam Balarabe Abbas, minister of Environment, pledged the ministry’s continued support for efforts to achieve deforestation-free finance in Nigeria.

“For a long time, our forests have been viewed mainly as commodities to be exploited rather than vital lifelines to be conserved and invested in,” said Balarabe, who was represented by Halima Bawa-Bwari.

“The environmental and economic costs of this imbalance have been severe, threatening agricultural production, food security and regional stability,” he explained.

“Achieving a deforestation-free economy is no longer just an environmental imperative; it is an economic necessity and an insurance policy for resilient supply chains and long-term prosperity,” he added.

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The minister said sustainable finance should be directed towards community-led reforestation, climate-smart agriculture and the empowerment of smallholder farmers and forest-dependent communities.

He noted that the ministry remained committed to partnerships that align environmental sustainability with fiscal responsibility and support the transition to a green economy.

Iyabo Mustapha-Lawal, representing the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, said collaboration was essential to promote deforestation-free finance in the agricultural sector.

According to her, forests are now recognised as critical infrastructure for economic resilience, food system sustainability and climate mitigation.

“Protecting forests is not only an environmental obligation, but it is also an economic imperative.” “Let us ensure that future generations inherit economies that are both prosperous and ecologically sustainable.”

Speaking also, Hugh Briggs, programme manager on agriculture at the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, said the EU would continue to support the push for deforestation-free finance in Nigeria.

He explained that the European Union Deforestation Regulation reflected the EU’s commitment to ensuring that products consumed in European markets do not contribute to global deforestation, forest degradation, biodiversity loss, or climate change.

Briggs said sustainable finance is critical to supporting responsible production, traceability, transparency, and inclusive economic growth, noting that the EU’s engagement is to drive partnerships to achieve shared environmental and economic goals.