NEWS: Illegal Chinese charcoal operation dismantled in Nigeria

Credit the International Center for Investigative Reporting for breaking the story of an unlicensed Chinese company setting up large-scale illegal charcoal operation deep in the Nigerian jungle.

Unfortunately, it seems the Chinese nationals behind these two illegal charcoal factories had inside help when it came to setting up shop.

According to the article, reported by By Chikezie OMEJE on February 19th,

“They (the Chinese) are able to export the charcoal by bribing customs officers. A customs officer who preferred anonymity told The ICIR that the Chinese charcoal producers operate in Nigeria with fake companies because they know they that their activities are illegal. When they use freight forwarders to get the charcoal outside the country, their real companies receive the products in China and Korea, the source said.”

So why is this story important? Because “The Chinese surreptitious production of charcoal does not only deplete the forests but also deprives Nigeria of income from the business because they do not pay the fees to obtain or renew permits and they do not pay appropriate taxes because their company is not registered.”

“To protect Nigeria’s ecosystem from further depletion arising from charcoal production, official regulations require a company to obtain permits from state forestry commission and the Federal Department of Forestry before embarking on commercial charcoal production.

Part of the regulations states that “a person shall not be granted a permit for charcoal production without having a reforestation and rehabilitation plan for the area from where the charcoal will be derived or produced.”

Kudos to ICIR for shining the light on this illegal operation. We shudder at The Charcoal Project to think how this activity may be ongoing in other parts of the continent and depriving Africans of a protected environment and financial justice.