Make illegal logging of trees a punishable Offence, Onuesoke to Delta Govt

The managing partner  of Onovwerosuoke foundation, Nigeria, Chief Sunny Onuesoke has appealed to Delta  State Government to enact laws that will make it illegal logging of trees in Delta a punishable offence. 

He opined that if the law is enacted, it will serve as deterrent to  illegal loggers, thereby discouraging the act of deforestation.

Onuesoke made the call in a chat with newsmen in Warri . 

He noted that the indiscriminate illegal  logging activities in the State is worrisome.

He stressed that though the State is blessed with natural economic trees like Iroko, Mahogany, red/white Afara, iron tree, mango tree and rubber tree among others as he pointed out that the activities of  illegal loggers have almost depleted the forest.

Onuesoke observed that truckloads of logs are moving out of the State daily to other parts of the country.

Onuesoke also added that the business is also booming in the deep swamp area where illegal loggers arbitrarily deplete the forest reserves without replacing same.

The former PDP Delta State gubernatorial aspirant maintained that the consequences of illegal logging are devastating on man and the environment hence it is responsible for the impoverishment of the communities that rely on forest resources as their means of livelihood.

According to him, “Also, illegal logging is responsible for loss of forest products, biodiversity loss and extinction of some rare species, decline in the function of conserving watershed, as well as removal of energy from the ecosystem.

“Likewise, illegal logging contributes to the loss of valuable agricultural land and trees, reduction in underground water,  forcing out of animals species from their natural habitats, loss of non-timber forest products, and decrease in soil fertility. Persistent illegal logging gives way to flooding and erosion, pollutes air, water and soil.

“When my organization, Onovwerosuoke Foundation went into the rural area to sensitize the people on the impact of  climate change and  deforestation they queried  if the Onovwerosuoke Foundation Nigeria is the owner of the land and why should they come and preach climate change to them?" he recalled, just as he explained that  Delta state  government  implementation of  a law  will curtail illegal logging  and poaching  of trees  the State."

Onuesoke disclosed that it’s crucial to recognize that forests are not just environmental assets; they are also economic powerhouses, saying tropical rainforests of Delta State provide a wealth of resources and services that are vital to local and national economies.

In order to minimize the act of illegal logging, Onuesoke appealed  to Delta state government to enact law that make it statutory for  illegal logging of  trees to be punishable offence of minimum of six months in prison  or minimum fine of almost a million Naira.

He explained that such a law when enacted will caution the people from illegal logging.

Onuesoke also suggested that it will be beneficial for Delta State to emulate Edo State Forestry, Cross River State, Taraba State  and Ekiti State that have enacted State  laws whose provisions prohibit illegal logging.