As illegal wood logging is on the rise after a year of lifting ban, the. Cross River State Governor Bassey Edet Otu, is worried by the rise in the crime.
Therefore, he has ordered that the ban be reinstated and enforce with immediate effect.
Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Owan Enoh, in a statement made available to newsmen in Calabar said that non-compliance with government. regulations by loggers is the primary reason for the ban.
Truth Live News gathered that he has however directed security agencies to enforce the ban by arresting offenders and confiscate any related equipment.
Also, he has urged those involved in timber logging to liaise with the State Forestry Commission for further guidance.
Moreover, the reinstatement of this ban comes just a year after Governor Otu lifted a 15-year ban on logging that was initially imposed by former Governor Liyel Imoke in 2008 to facilitate the state’s participation in the REDD+ programme aimed at reducing deforestation and forest degradation.