Presidential Candidate of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Sighted at Nigeria Forest Economy Summit 2025
Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the presidential candidate of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), was spotted at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Monday. He attended the Nigeria Forest Economy Summit 2025, organized by the Presidential Committee on Economic and Financial Inclusion (PreCEFI).
Kwankwaso did not deliver a speech or engage with reporters during the event.
The summit featured remarks from the Vice President, represented by Ibrahim Hadejia, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, who emphasized the critical state of Nigeria’s forests and the urgent economic implications if the situation is not addressed.
Dr. Sadiq Sani, Founder and CEO of Netzence Sustainability Limited, highlighted his company’s efforts to leverage technology to unlock over $2 billion in potential within the forest sector.
In his opening declaration, Shettima stated, “More than 90 percent of Nigeria’s original forest cover has been depleted, with over 400,000 hectares lost annually. This is not merely an environmental crisis; it is an economic emergency.” He underscored that neglecting forest resources directly impoverishes the nation and its people.
Shettima further elaborated on the importance of Nigeria’s forests, describing them as a “treasure trove” of biodiversity, timber, medicinal plants, and other valuable products that support agriculture, trade, health, climate resilience, and finance. He noted that this vast potential remains largely untapped.
He cited examples from other countries, stating, “Look at Vietnam, earning over $15 billion yearly from forest exports. Brazil’s Amazon contributes 15% of their GDP from forests alone. Ethiopia has generated 350,000 jobs through reforestation and value chains. Nigeria should not only replicate these successes but lead Africa’s forest industrialization.”
