Against the backdrop of indiscriminate logging of trees and revenue leakages, the governor of kogi state, Alhaji Yahaya Bello has declared those involved in logging and deforestation as illegal, criminals and economic saboteurs as he set up armed security guards to checkmate their excesses.
Those caught in the act will be liable to a fine of between N1.5m to N2.5m depending on the quality of the woods or the capacity of the truck used in carriage even as he vowed to flush out those involved in the deforestation and creating ecological problems for the state.
The governor , who was represented by the commissioner for Environment and physical development Mrs. Rosemary Osikoya stated this yesterday in Lokoja, while inaugurating the 36 man joint task force comprising members of the Nigeria Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) and the State Security Service to combat the activities of illegal tree logging and criminals hiding inside the forests to commit kidnappings and armed robberies.
Bello who lamented that the state with 36 designated forest reserves could not generate revenue from it due to the activities of unscrupulous individuals who have turned the reserves to their personal property, stressing that the new direction agenda of his administration is determined to flush out all those perpetuating economic sabotage against the state.
“As you know the state and indeed the nation is suffering from climate change which has affected the people of the state negatively. More so that Kogi which is a hub to commuters from Abuja to many states in the south and with high volume of vehicular traffic with indiscriminate emissions of carbon dioxide , and with illegal felling of tress in our forest reserves , if not checked the people will be exposed to serious health hazards.
“We are determined to checkmate their activities to avoid ecological problems. We are aware of the cabals in the nefarious business, we are sounding a note of warning to them to desist from the activities. Those who want to continue with the business are enjoined to get registered with the relevant Government Agency to avoid running foul of the law.
“I charged you today, as a taskforce to arrest any defaulter and to fine him or her according to the prescribed amount based on the quality of woods or the trucks used.
“I charge you to arrest anybody by any guise collecting money from transporting woods and other farm produce as the state has not engaged anybody or group of individuals to act on its behalf, anyone caught should be treated as economic saboteurs and a criminal”, he charged.
He alleged that the activities of logging has in the past been compromised by some ministry officials, the community leaders, chiefs and infact some government officials , stressing that his government is determined to preserve the state against climate change and to generate internal revenue for the state.
Speaking in the same vein the commissioner of Police Abdullahi Chafe warned the officers to churn corruption and not to collude with the cabals to sabotage government’s laudable objectives saying any one caught working unprofessionally will be dealt with.
