Percy Onyeka
The Nasarawa State Ministry for Environment and Natural Resources have deemphasized the continues cutting down of trees for charcoal production in large quantity for commercial purposes outside the state.
The commissioner for environment , Honourable Yakubu Kwanta Boher frowned at those still in the habit of cutting down of trees in that regards.
He said the aim is not to witch hunt anybody but in the interest of the state in order to prevent massive erosion in communities.
Meanwhile Some citizens of the state especially residents of Karu Local Government Area who are mostly the less privilege have demanded for government intervention against the ban on charcoal being the only option left for their survival amidst the high cost of commodities in the market,which included kerosene and cooking gas
This is coming from a recent arrest and impoundment of over 120 trucks carrying the product at Uke Police Division on Thursday , with the operation continuing unabated.
The affected charcoal users as food vendors , some households and bakers have lamented over the continues arrest of the charcoal trucks drivers , as the situation is causing them loses and furthering hardship .
It would be recalled that the Nasarawa State Government since 2021 placed a ban on the continuous failing down of trees for production of charcoal for commercial earns.
The decision of the government through her ministry of environment was to protect ecological hazards occuring from deforestation. It also seek that for any tree to be cutdown , individuals involved in cutting down the tree must afford a replacement by planting a tree, but this has fall short of the target, hence the ban on charcoal business in order to prevent unforeseen erosion hazards coming as a result of trees cutting.
The commissioner for environment, honourable Yakubu Kwanta Boher , in his efforts to curtail the rate of commercializing charcoal in large quantity outside the state has this to say” We are not against the use of charcoal in houses within the state but transporting the product outside the state in large quantity leaves us with worries to how our forest is being naked as a result of cutting down of trees which can be very devastating.
” What we as a ministry tried to let our people to understand is that we are not against the use of charcoal in homes but how long shall we continue to have our forest rendered empty for those who wants to commercialize charcoal against out detriment?
” When we enacted the law we percified those interested in cutting down the trees to ensured registration with our forest guards , but to my greatest amazement , people are still going to the forest to cut down our trees, burnt them for charcoal businesses in large quantity without following the due regulatory processes , which leaves us as a state with great concern. This is why we placed a ban on such business and the arrest of offenders” He said.
The commissioner who cited an example with what is happening at Obudu forest decried the effect of erosion to that community , as he said the ban on commercialization of charcoal in large quantity in Nasarawa State will curtail unwarranted cutting down of trees, leading to a complete stoppage of the business outside the state.
Francis Nansak , Lafia
