Government of Cross River State has declared a total suspension of logging activities in all parts of the State.
This was contained in a statement signed by Prof. Anthony Owan-Enoh, Secretary to the Government (SSG) of Cross River on Saturday and made available to journalists.
It would be recalled that the state government had earlier introduced a permiteeship’ system which empowered the state’s Forestry Commission to give permits to loggers to fell specific trees.
However, this has not worked as illegal logging has continued in the state even in areas under government protection such as the parks.
The SSG said, “In spite of the forbearance by government on the activities of timber loggers in the state, government notes the persisting refusal and or neglect to keep to the terms stipulated by government for the felling of trees.
“Consequently, Gov.. Bassey Otu has suspended further logging activities in the state.
“Security agencies are to arrest offenders and confiscate any log and machinery deployed thereto.”
Owan-Enoh called on the players in the timber logging trade to contact the state forestry commission for further guidance.
The rainforest in Cross River, which accounts for about 50 per cent of the surviving rainforest in the nation, is under serious threats from human activities such farming, illegal logging and illegal mining.