A prominent environmental advocacy organization, Citizens Against Crime and Corruption (CACC), has expressed serious concerns on the effects of illegal Logging in Cross River State. Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, John Lovety, the group’s director, described the situation as “economic sabotage” and accused officials and influential individuals of collusion. He pointed out that due to the loss of its enormous Forest reserves, Cross River, which was once a crucial area for lowering Greenhouse gas emissions, is now experiencing severe Climate Change impacts. According to CACC, corrupt practices and lax enforcement of Forestry Regulation allow those involved in these crimes to frequently operate with impunity.
The group emphasizes the necessity of an open approach to Forest Management and the application of more robust regulation to maintain the state’s biodiversity and natural resources. He called on the Nigerian populace and the international community to exert pressure on the government for accountability. Among the cited communities impacted by the illicit logging operations were Ifumkpa, Owai, New and Old Ekuri, Okokori, Ochon, and Agoi Ibami villages. Areas within the Boki Local Government Area and the Forest Reserve Area’s Agoi Expo and Iko Esai are among the others.
Pressing need for sustainable forestry practices.
Lovety noted that the organization has requested that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of Nigeria look into the matter and bring charges against those involved, including accused complicit officials. However, he noted that the agency has displayed perceived inaction and called for urgent reforms to address the issue comprehensively. The group urged international environmental organizations, including the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), to stop funding conservation initiatives in Nigeria, claiming resource mismanagement
Their worries highlight the wider negative effects of illegal logging in Cross River State on the environment, society, and economy, underscoring the pressing need for sustainable forestry practices and strict adherence to conservation regulations in order to safeguard the area’s ecosystem and its inhabitants. Similar to the CACC claim, a ZAM international investigation that was carried out in six African nations, including Nigeria, has shown that the ruling political elites have been involved in the fast deforestation. According to the report, the government of Cross River State was soliciting business from monoculture companies in officially protected forest areas.
Illicit loggers are exploiting these natural resources.
Cross River State has always been renowned as the location of the nation’s greatest forest reserves, encompassing over 4,000 square kilometers of deep forest, including the biodiversity-rich Cross River National Park. However, illegal loggers are exploiting these natural resources, frequently offering local communities as low as ₦20,000 in exchange for the cutting of trees. This uncontrolled timber removal limits the state’s potential for ecotourism and sustainable forestry. Furthermore, widespread Deforestation causes serious environmental deterioration, such as soil erosion, biodiversity loss, and disturbance of water cycles.
Rosewood and other high-demand timbers are shipped overseas, particularly to Asian markets, where they fuel the multibillion-dollar illegal timber trade. The illicit activities continue unchecked, worsening climate change and depleting Nigeria’s natural resources, despite initiatives like the United Nations REDD+ program to eliminate deforestation. While local populations in Cross River experience decreasing agricultural production as a result of forest loss, Endangered Species like the Cross River Gorilla are facing habitat loss. The situation of illicit logging in Cross River is a reflection of Nigeria’s larger problems.
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Unregulated forest exploitation jeopardizes attempts to reduce greenhouse gas Emissions and meet climate commitments. Additionally, the financial losses restrict the government’s capacity to fund initiatives aimed at reducing poverty, improving education, and building infrastructure. The current situation has become even more unstable as a result of resource conflicts that have been made worse by deforestation and resulted in violent clashes amongst tribes. Meanwhile, these natural resources must be preserved to maintain Nigeria’s social cohesion, economic stability, and environmental sustainability. The costs of delay will greatly exceed any temporary financial gains from illicit logging if immediate action is not taken.