Cross River State Governmment has issued a statement to auction 32 impounded trucks with illegal timber at the border community with Ebonyi State on Monday.
The statement said the governor has directed all owners of seized trucks with illegal sawn timber/logs to report to the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Cross River State Forestry Commission, within 7-days for necessary compoundment of their trucks.
According to the statement, failure to adhere to this directive will lead to final confiscation and auction of the impounded trucks and timbers, which could indicate the CRSG will reach a final decision to sale the affected trucks with timbers after seven days.
This comes on the heels of the state government anti-deforestation Committee’s plan to offer window of opportunity to regularise their operations in the state.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor Emmanuel Ogbeche, issued the statement in Calabar following an on-the- spot-inspection of the 32 trucks with illegal timber at the border community with Ebonyi State on Monday, by the Chief of Staff, to the Governor, Hon. Emmanuel Ironbar.
“The impounding of the 32 trucks is a demonstration of Governor Otu’s government’s determination to match words with action,” Ironbar said.
Ironbar, at the scene of the seized trucks at Ejiraga in Yala LGA commended the Anti-deforestation Committee for their prompt action.
He said the governor decried the devastation to the rich biodiversity of the state by the criminal logging of the forest reserves in Cross River, and had warned of stiff penalties against the perpetrators.
The governor however, enjoined forest bearing communities to assist the government by providing vital information to the assigned agencies.
He also warned them to desist from assisting illegal loggers and wildlife poachers as well as smugglers to deplete the forest.