Lift embargo on logging, Cross River lawmakers urge Government

By Sixtus Uket (Calabar)

Members of the Cross River House of Assembly (CRHA) have called on the State Government to urgently lift the embargo on logging in the State.

The State lawmakers, who made the call in a resolution adopted after deliberation on a motion brought before the House of Assembly by the member representing Boki 1 State Constituency, Hon. Phillip Bette, said it was imperative to usher in sustainable management of the State’s tropical rainforest.

They also called on the State Forestry Commission to take adequate steps to implement the provisions of the Forestry Commission Law which, amongst other things, would greatly check deforestation.

Opening deliberation on the motion, the Sponsor, Hon. Phillip Bette reiterated that Cross River State owns more than 50 percent of the entire rainforest in Nigeria, regretting that, the rate at which the forest is being depleted is alarming and calls for concern.

The lawmaker also explained that the State Government had placed a temporary embargo on logging about 16 years ago, stressing that rather than that helping the preservation of the forest, the embargo led to massive illegal logging by criminals.

He further stated that, “regrettably most of the State’s timber is being carted away to neighbouring states like 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 it is very rich; and if you go through it, it does not include ban or moratorium but it has been kept aside, so it is on that basis that I say we should remove the ban,” Bette stated.

In their respective contributions to the debate, members observed that the motion was very timely and that the embargo should be lifted very soon so as to stop the huge loss of the State’s much-needed revenue to criminals.

They also lamented that, the purpose for which the embargo was imposed has not been achieved, adding that, “rather, the forest faces severe threats from the activities of illegal loggers.”

They added that the forest which has been the natural habitat of some rare animal species is fast being destroyed by rampart illegal logging and bush burning thus endangering the survival of such animals.

They emphasized that, proper management of the forest would also lead to job creation for the teeming unemployed youths as well as boost the state’s economy.

The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem observed that the preponderance of opinion supported the lifting of the embargo and directed the clerk to forward the resolutions to the State Governor for implementation.