By Musa Yaro, Calabar
The Cross River State House of Assembly has called on the state government to urgently lift the ban on logging.
This, they said would usher in sustainable management of the state’s tropical rainforest.
They also called on the State Forestry Commission to take adequate steps aimed at implementing the provisions of the Forestry Commission Law which, amongst other things, will greatly check deforestation.
The Member representing Boki 1 State Constituency, Hon. Bette Obi, in a motion, moved before the house reasoned that Cross River owns over 50% of the entire rainforest in Nigeria.
He however lamented that the rate at which the forest is being depleted calls for concern and urgent intervention.
“The Cross River State Government had placed a temporary embargo on logging about 16 years ago but instead of preserving the forest, the embargo has rather snowballed into massive illegal logging by criminals.
“Most of the State’s timber is being carted away to neighboring states including Ebonyi, thus improving the economy of those States to the detriment of Cross River State.
“As a member of the State Assembly I know there is a law that has been passed by the State Assembly called Cross River State Forestry law and is very rich If you go through it, it does not include a ban or moratorium but it has been kept aside, so it is on that basis that I say we should lift the ban,” Obi said.
In their various contributions to the debate, Members observed that the motion was apt hence the need to lift the embargo to stop the huge loss of the State’s much-needed revenue to criminals.
They observed that the purpose for which the embargo was imposed has not been achieved as the forest faces severe threats from the activities of illegal loggers.
They maintained that the forest which has been the natural habitat of some rare animal species is fast being destroyed by rampant illegal logging and bush burning thus endangering the survival of such animals.
According to them, proper management of the forest will also lead to job creation for the teeming unemployed youths as well as boost the state’s economy.
Reacting, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem observed that the preponderance of opinion supported the lifting of the embargo.
He further directed the clerk to forward the motion to the State Governor for implementation.
