ABUJA – A bill for an act to establish the Federal College of Forestry Technology and Research, Birnin Gwari, Kaduna, on Tuesday, passed second reading at the Senate.

This followed the presentation of the bill by the sponsor, Sen. Sani Uba (APC -Kaduna) during plenary.

While debating on the general principles of the bill, Uba said that the bill was read for the first time on Nov. 26, 2019.

He said the objectives of the bill included carrying out research, training extension and dissemination of findings in forestry technology, development, applied science and management.

The lawmaker said that forests were critical to human environment as they provided social and economic benefits adding that their contributions to the overall economy of the country was enormous.

“The forest sector provides employment; there is the processing and trade of forest products and energy.

“The contributions of forest to national development include the hosting and protection of sites and landscapes of high, cultural, spiritual and recreational values,” Uba said.

He said the establishment of the college was an important step in up-scaling knowledge and skills of Nigerian forest managers.

Supporting the bill, Sen. Ibrahim Hadejia (APC-Jigawa) said such an institution would help the country preserve most of the indigenous trees lost by deforestation.

“If we set up an institute such like this, it will help in preserving genetic materials and help to bring back some of those trees that have been lost, trees that have medicinal properties.

“It will not just focus on development of materials but also how to ensure that these materials developed in our nurseries are planted sustain-ably.

“At the moment, less than 10 per cent of what is planted as a result of tree planting campaigns survive to maturity,” he said.

Sen. Istifanus Gyang (PDP-Plateau), also said that the current challenge of climate change required the investment of forestry technology and research to train scholars, experts and personnel in the field.

He said that the college when established would serve in advancing the quest of human capital development in the critical area of forestry, technology and research

In his remark, President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan referred the bill to the Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TetFund for further legislative actions to report back to the Senate in four weeks.