Cameroon timber
FILE: Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Edet Otu
Stakeholders have called on the Cross River State Government to fully enforce the forestry law and ensure jail terms for persons caught engaging in illegal logging and other forest-related offences.
The call was made on Wednesday during a one-day stakeholders’ engagement on forest conservation, organised by the Cross River National Park Oban division in partnership with Wildlife Conservation of Nigeria, host communities, and other civil society groups.
Speaking at the event, the State Conservator of Parks, CP Joseph Ntui, decried the continued depletion of the state’s forest reserves, blaming weak enforcement and the activities of illegal loggers for the trend, adding that host communities give consent to mining companies yet cannot control the extent of the mining activities.
He said, “Some SZC and even enclave communities have given consent to mining companies to mine minerals around their communities. Most at times, after giving consent, the communities cannot control the extent of the mining activities, thereby causing all manner of pollution to the environment.”
Ntui noted that the illegal activities not only contravene the provisions of the National Park Service Act 46, Cap 65 of 2010, but also have dire consequences, including global warming, air pollution, soil erosion, diseases, and insecurity.
He further highlighted that the core mandate of the National Park includes the protection of the ecological integrity of the areas designated as National Parks through proactive conservation, management, preservation, and propagation of Nigeria’s diminishing biodiversity.
He said the park undertakes effective patrols and surveillance to crack down on illegal activities such as poaching, logging, mining, extraction and debarking, water poisoning, and illegal entry. He stressed that the protection and conservation of natural resources have great health benefits for both the communities and residents.
He emphasised that since assuming office in November 2024, a total of 309 offenders have been arrested, adding that 90 per cent of the offenders arrested are not indigenes of Cross River.
“Our record of arrests from the period I assume duty in November 2024, a total number of 309 offenders have been arrested. About 90% of the offenders are non- Cross Riverians, implying that we are the ones who give them access to exploit our resources indiscriminately “, he added.
On his part, the Paramount Ruler of the Akamkpa Local Government Area, Agbor Ebani, said the state risked losing its biodiversity and climate reserves if the law was not strictly enforced. He urged the government to prosecute offenders to deter them.
“Our forests are dying. Laws exist, but enforcement is weak. Offenders are arrested today and back in the forest tomorrow because there are no consequences. The government should ensure that offenders are prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others.
“We need jail terms, not just fines. The law provides for custodial sentences. Enforce it. At the end of this meeting, every community should go back and support the National Park to continue preserving our forest”, he stated.
The monarch charged other traditional rulers, youth, and other community leaders not to chicken themselves to peanuts or any other incentives, urging them to refrain from accepting bribes or inducements for illegal entry into reserve areas.
“Our forefathers did not collect peanuts to burn down our bushes and forest. Today, we think we are wise. How do you expect someone to give you N50,000, and because of that, the person invades and destroys our forest? We must refrain from this and ensure that we put a stop to illegal penetration in our forest reserve areas,” he added.
Benjamin Enyam from the Cross River Forestry Commission, while commending the efforts of the management of the National Park, said there are strategies and plans to collaborate with security agencies to clamp down on illegal logging.
He noted that the government is making efforts to ensure that offenders are apprehended and jailed accordingly.