The Yagba East Local Government Council in Kogi State has imposed an immediate and total ban on the indiscriminate cutting, felling, and destruction of cashew trees across all communities in the local government area.
The directive, which takes immediate effect, is aimed at protecting vital agricultural resources, mitigating environmental degradation, and safeguarding the long-term economic value of cashew production, a major source of livelihood for thousands of local farmers and traders.
In an official press statement issued on Saturday by the Office of the Executive Chairman, Hon. Dare Monday, the Council sternly warned individuals, groups, farmers, and commercial loggers to desist from the unauthorized destruction of cashew plantations forthwith.
The Council emphasized that cashew trees represent a critical agricultural asset that drives the local economy. It cautioned that unmanaged deforestation and illegal logging activity risk severe economic losses for residents and long-term ecological damage across the council area.
To enforce compliance, relevant security and environmental authorities have been tasked with monitoring farmlands and forestry zones across the council. The local administration made it clear that any individual or group caught violating the ban will face swift prosecution and the full weight of the law, including applicable penalties under existing environmental and agricultural statutes.
The Council urged traditional rulers, community leaders, youth organizations, and farmers’ associations to collaborate with law enforcement by reporting illegal felling and championing the preservation of cashew orchards within their domains.
Calling the conservation effort a collective duty, the Executive Chairman stressed that preserving Yagba East’s agricultural wealth is essential for securing the economic future of both present and upcoming generations.
