Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has urged the Federal Government to put adequate measures in place to fight against illegal poaching and tree felling in a bid to protect forests in Nigeria and their abundant resources.

He gave the advice in his address in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, at the 42nd annual conference of Forest Association of Nigeria (FAN), which coincided with the 50th anniversary of the association.

Obasanjo, who was represented by Deacon Sunday Agusa, stated that certain plant species in the forests have become endangered and pragmatic steps must be taken to ensure that they did not go into extinction.

Correspondent Kunle Ojo reports that the former president maintained that the country must ensure safe keep of all her endangered species adding that this must be done by harnessing, document and advance the innumerable benefits of the forests in solving contemporary health issues.

Minister of Environment, Dr. Muhammed Abubakar, who was represented on the occasion, said the Federal Government has commenced policy review towards effective governance and management of forests and its resources.

He also spoke against overexploitation of forest and forest resources with a view to averting future pandemic. He advocated a holistic approach to protecting forest and forest resources

Former Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof Julius Okojie, who presented a keynote address on the occasion, emphasized the need for the government to arrest the ongoing spate of deforestation in the country. He warned that if proactive steps are not taken, the negative effects of global warming and climate change would be inevitable.

National President of Association, Alhaji Ahmad Ibrahim, stated that the association would continue to work and engage relevant stakeholders towards engendering reforestation and stop unsustainable degradation of Forest and forest resources.

The Chairman, National Organising Committee, 42nd conference of FAN, Prof Nureni Adewole, also said: Nigeria’s forest enclaves and her resources in Nigeria is suffering untold abuses in relation to utilization purposes, exploitation, management and monitoring.