Governor Bassey Otu has declared a total suspension of logging activities in all parts of Cross River.

This was disclosed in a statement signed by Anthony Owan-Enoh, secretary to the state government.

The Cross River government had earlier introduced a permiteeship system, which empowered its 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 parks.

“In spite of the forbearance by the government on the activities of timber loggers in the state, the government notes the persisting refusal and or neglect to keep to the terms stipulated by the government for the felling of trees,” said the statement.

Mr Owan-Enoh added, “Consequently, Governor Bassey Otu has suspended further logging activities in the state. Security agencies are to arrest offenders and confiscate any log and machinery deployed thereto.”

Mr Owan-Enoh called on the players in the timber logging trade to contact the forestry commission for further guidance.

The rainforest in Cross River, which accounts for about 50 per cent of the surviving rainforest in Nigeria, is under serious threats from human activities such as farming, illegal logging and illegal mining.

(NAN)