By George Odok, EnviroNews Nigeria
The people of Ekuri community in Akamkpa Local Government of Cross River State are demanding the sum of N500 million compensation from Ezemac International Nigeria Limited over illegal logging.
The community alleged that the company carried out illegal logging in Ekuri forest, a Community Conserved Area (CCA) in Akamkpa Local Government Area of the state.
The Ekuri Community is also demanding that “Ezemac International Nigeria Limited takes immediate steps to end logging of Ekuri forest and pullout immediately from the said forest.”
Mr. Edwin Ogar, the Program Coordinator of Worthy Association for Tackling Environmental Ruins (WATER), disclosed this on Sunday, April 16, 2023.
He said that the community was no longer comfortable with the activities of the company.
Ogar, who has the power of attorney from the Ekuri Community to conserve and manage the community forest for the livelihood and improvement of Ekuri villagers, said: “The situation is very bad.”
He said that the forest they have been conserving for years has been destroyed by the company without permission.
According to him, the Ekuri forest which is a protected area has equal status to the national protected areas or forests in Nigeria, registered under the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC).
“They went for counting and said I should pay for 100 trees and any extra and I entered into an agreement with them for the money.”
According to him, after two days, he was called to stop work that he had encroached into the Ekuri forest.
He explained that, in the process, the Ekuri community people removed the batteries of his caterpillars, thereby causing some damages.
“For four months now, they have stopped my workers from working and everyday we pay N300,000 for the machines and my business is failing,” he said.