Jenigho Philip Esavwede, Ojo M
The threat of global warming and climate change has made it much more imperative than ever to dispense with energy generated from hydrocarbons and replace same with alternative sources of energy. Presently, crude oil still accounts for Nigeria’s main source of revenue as the oil sector provides for 95% of its foreign exchange earnings and 80% of its budgetary revenues. The implication of this is that when the world has changed from the use of crude oil to alternative energy sources Nigeria will lose 95% of its foreign exchange earnings. This makes it a categorical imperative for Nigeria to begin to look beyond crude oil as its main revenue source. Apart from crude oil, Nigeria is endowed with many other natural resources; amongst these is its forest resource. It is the position of this paper that if the forest resources of Nigeria are well harnessed and conserved them will constitute a major source of Nigeria revenue. The paper identified absence of forest resources legislation at the National level and at the state levels, where legislation exist; they are weak and need to be strengthened. This paper recommends that an Act be enacted at the national level to protect forest resources and same should to review and incorporate the existing state forestry laws in order to harness Nigeria forest resources for economic growth. The paper also recommends serious education of the masses and aggressive awareness campaign on the devastating effects of deforestation and bush burning in Nigeria.