KWHA summons Ministry of Environment and Forestry over indiscriminate felling of trees in the state
The Kwara State House of Assembly, on Thursday summoned officials of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry over indiscriminate felling of tress in the state.
The ministry is expected to appear before the House committee on Health and Environment.
This was sequel to the adoption of motion on notice titled “Curbing indiscriminate felling of trees in Kwara State” moved by Hon Adamu Usman of Okuta/Yashikira Constituency.
Usman noted that there was existing government policy on saw-chain law and felling of trees which stipulates that if anyone hew down a tree, he must plant two seedlings.
He however expressed concern that saw-millers and saw-chain men all over the state hew down trees without planting seedlings to replenish the forest thereby encouraging desertification.
He said the most worrisome part of the problem was that most Kwarans were not resistance to the activities of the saw millers and saw-chain men who were making money but creating environmental problem for the society.
The lawmaker expressed worry over the aftermath of deforestation with its attendants problems ranging from habitat destruction, erosion, flooding, global warming and greenhouse effort.
While noting further that the problem was very peculiar to Baruten and Kaiama Local Governments, Usman identified lack of proper supervision by the concerned ministry as the bane of implementation of existing policy.
He called on the House to intervene to ensure that necessary control mechanism was put in place to check the menace.
Contributing, a member representing Edu Constituency, Hon Ishaku Aliyu Adams said traditional rulers were not helped the situation because some of them involved in the business and called on the government to stop cutting of trees for the next five years to prevent deforestation in the state.
Also, Hon Abdulrasheed Taiwo Abdullahi of Owode/Onire Constituency said implementation of existing laws preventing cutting of trees has always been the problem and emphasized the need for the House to intensify its oversight function with a view to putting executive on their toes.
In her submission, a member representing Ekiti Constituency, Hon Ebu Owolabi said Ministry of Environment was doing nothing to implement existing laws prohibiting the acts of falling of trees.
She noted with dismay that many government owned reserved forest had become deserts due to negligence of duty on the part of supervising ministry and called on the House to wade into the problem.
Reading the resolution of the House, the Speaker, Dr Ali Ahmad urged the traditional ruler and association of farmers to assist the government in reducing indiscriminate massive felling of trees in the local governments through the sensitization of local populace.
Ahmad directed Ministry of Environment to immediately commence enforcement of existing policy relating to planting of trees to replace cut down trees.
He mandated the committee to report back to the House within one week.
