Cross River State lawmakers seek lifting of forest moratorium

The Cross River State House of Assembly has joined other organisations in asking the state government to lift the moratorium placed on logging of woods in the state’s forests.

Enforced by former Governor Liyel Imoke’s government, the moratorium was meant to check deforestation for two years but had lasted for 12 years, even as forests in the state keep depleting.

The lawmakers yesterday said management of the state’s forests should be the exclusive responsibility of the Forestry Commission, as provided in the Cross River State Forest Law 2010 as amended.

They also want the anti-deforestation taskforce to still be in force to provide military presence and enhance sustainable management of the forests.

Members adopted the resolutions sequel to prayers of a message from representative of Boki 2, Hillary Boson, who moved the motion on the floor of the House.

He argued that the forest reserves were critical to the well being of Cross River people and condemned indiscriminate logging of woods across the state.