Cross River to import timber from Cameroon

The Cross River State government has concluded arrangements to import woods from the Republic of Cameroon owing to the present ban on wood logging in the state. The chairman of the state Forestry Commission, Mr. Bette Obi and chairman of the state anti-deforestation agency, Air Vice Marshall Eko Osim disclosed this to Daily Trust recently. […]

The Cross River State government has concluded arrangements to import woods from the Republic of Cameroon owing to the present ban on wood logging in the state.

The chairman of the state Forestry Commission, Mr. Bette Obi and chairman of the state anti-deforestation agency, Air Vice Marshall Eko Osim disclosed this to Daily Trust recently.

 Obi said the government of Cameroon has expressed desire to supply any quantity ordered since, unlike Cross River, they have not banned wood logging, and needed to make foreign exchange from that resource.

Obi explained  that they had to embark on the exercise to close timber markets in the state discovered to be selling illegal woods.

“We have made good arrangements to get woods from Cameroon in order to cushion effects of shortage in supply owing to the present ban in the state. Cameroon government had approached us to supply the woods since they have not banned theirs,” he said.

On reforestation effort in the state, Obi said they were partnering relevant stakeholders to regenerate tree nurseries, especially in urban centres and at Boje community in Boki LGA of the state which suffered terrible landslide many years ago.

 On his part, Osim said the state government has given timber dealers in the state all freedom to get their stocks from anywhere but outside the state and that they must get official permit to do so.

He said they strictly monitored loggers and regularly impound illegal woods that are brought into the state or gotten from any of the forests in the state.

“I can assure that if you travel to neighbouring Akwa Ibom, Abia, Ebonyi states etc and see any woods they are stolen from Cross River State,” he said.

On allegation that his agency was only victimising timber dealers in the state, Osim said they have mandate to evacuate illegal woods from all known markets in the state and to prosecute illegal wood loggers using minimum force.