A Forest Without a Management Plan Is Like a Church Without a Bible or a Mosque Without a Quran — Prof. Popoola Warns

Nigeria’s forests are drifting into dangerous uncertainty, and the warning could not be more vivid: having a forest without a Management Plan is like having a Church without a Bible or a Mosque without a Quran. This striking metaphor, delivered by renowned forestry expert Professor Labode Popoola, set the tone for a hard‑hitting call to action on the urgent need for structured forest governance across the country. Prof Popoola stated this at the maiden edition of the Monthly Global Discourse of ValidViewNetwork Media.

The Monthly Global Discourse is ValidViewNetwork’s signature global conversation platform conceived to bridge the gap between knowledge and action by creating a forum where global perspectives meet local realities. Through robust discussions and evidence-based engagements, the initiative seeks to promote informed decision making, public awareness, policy innovation, and sustainable development.

Speaking at the maiden edition of the ValidViewNetwork Global Discourse, themed “Nigeria’s Forests Under Siege: Charting a Path to Safety, Stability, and Sustainable Development,” held virtually on Sunday, June 28, 2026, Prof Popoola lamented the monumental neglect that the forests were subjected to in the last 15-20 years.

ValidViewNetwork reports that Prof. Popoola challenged any state in Nigeria to present a functional Forest Management Plan from the last 15–20 years, insisting that none currently exists. He declared: “If any state has a Management Plan within the last two decades, let them bring it out.” His assertion underscores a national governance vacuum that has left forests vulnerable, unregulated, and dangerously exposed.

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To Christians, the Bible is the foundation of faith, a guide for doctrine, discipline, and daily living. To Muslims, the Quran is the ultimate source of divine instruction, moral clarity, and spiritual direction. And to nations, a constitution provides the legal framework that defines order, rights, responsibilities, and governance. Prof. Popoola explained that a Forest Management Plan plays the same role.

He stated :  “Forest Management Plan is the guiding document that sets out how forests should be protected, used, monitored, restored, and secured”.

Without such a plan, he warned, forests become ungoverned spaces, open to abuse, exploitation, and criminal occupation.

He stated further: “The absence of Management Plans is one of the major factors that has allowed our forests to become hijacked by bandits and kidnappers for their nefarious activities.”

ValidViewNetwork reports that this lack of structured oversight has contributed to forests becoming hideouts, transit routes, detention camps, and operational bases for violent groups across several states in Nigeria.

Many children, women, and men remain trapped in several forests across Nigeria, held in makeshift camps by bandits and kidnappers who exploit these ungoverned spaces for criminal operations. In some of these forests, victims are kept for days, weeks, and even months, with families left in anguish as insecurity deepens across the country, ValidViewNetwork reports.

Prof. Popoola highlighted the importance and benefits of Management Plans, noting that they provide clear frameworks for conservation, sustainable harvesting, biodiversity protection, community engagement, surveillance, and security coordination.

According to him, they also help states prevent illegal logging, monitor forest health, strengthen climate resilience, and ensure forests contribute meaningfully to economic development.

The Distinguished Discussant urged state governors to begin putting mechanisms in place for effective forest management once the current crisis stabilises. He emphasised that Nigeria cannot reclaim its forests or secure rural communities without returning to structured planning, professional oversight, and evidence‑based governance, ValidViewNetwork reports.

Prof. Labode Popoola, FFAN, is an internationally respected scholar, development expert, and one of Africa’s leading voices in forestry, environmental governance, and sustainable development. He currently serves as the Executive Secretary/CEO of the African Forest Forum, where he provides continental leadership on forest policy, climate resilience, and sustainable natural resource management. A Professor of Forest Economics and Sustainable Development, Prof. Popoola has built an illustrious academic and administrative career spanning several decades. He is a former President of the Forestry Association of Nigeria (FAN), where he championed reforms that strengthened professional standards and advanced national conversations on forest conservation. He also served as Vice-Chancellor of Osun State University, providing visionary leadership that enhanced institutional growth, academic excellence, and global visibility. His work across research, policy, and institutional development has earned him recognition within and beyond Africa. Prof. Popoola is widely regarded for his clarity of thought, analytical depth, and ability to connect environmental issues with broader themes of national stability, economic development, and human well-being.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of ValidViewNetwork Advisory Board, Mr Lanre Ogundipe while declaring the program open and welcoming Prof. Popoola and other participants to the maiden edition of the program called for concerted efforts to rescue the forests from the grip of the intruders. Mr Lanre Ogundipe is a distinguished journalist by training and practice, former President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and former President of the African Union of Journalists (AUJ).

ValidViewNetwork, founded by Kayode Ogunjobi, PhD, FHEA, FFAN, stands firmly on three strategic legs—ValidViewNetwork Media, ValidViewNetwork Consultancy, and ValidViewNetwork Advocacy working together to deliver credible news reporting, expert environmental and academic consultancy services, and strong public‑interest advocacy. Through this integrated structure, the organisation advances evidence‑based communication, sustainable development solutions, institutional strengthening, and community‑focused interventions that support environmental protection, academic excellence, and societal well‑being.

As Nigeria confronts rising insecurity, environmental degradation, and the growing use of forests as criminal enclaves, Prof. Popoola’s message lands with unmistakable clarity: a forest without a Management Plan is a forest without direction, without protection, and without a future. His metaphor invoking the Bible, the Quran, and the constitution explicitly captures the gravity of the moment and the urgent need for states to restore order, rebuild governance, and reclaim their forest landscapes before more damage is done, ValidViewNetwork reports