The Kwara State Government has again warned charcoal dealers in the state to desist from illegal tree felling.
The government gave the warning through the state Commissioner for Environment, Mallam Ndanusa Usman, who warned of severe consequences for violators of the law.
Usman stressed that anyone caught felling trees for the production of charcoal will face the full wrath of the law.
The Commissioner who spoke during the ongoing enforcement of the law exercise, which Arewa PUNCH witnessed, maintained that “the major cause of deforestation is logging which is second to shifting cultivation. This imposes a great number of negative impacts on species or products produced from forests.
“It also has general effects on the environment and the inhabitants ranging from socioeconomic impact to health hazards.”
According to him, “deforestation leads to climate change, and if this is not curbed, it could affect food production, the fresh air, clean water, and the healthy environment we are yearning to sustain.”
He further noted that while the transportation of charcoal by cars within the state for domestic use is still allowed, but insisted that those transporting by lorries to other states will be confiscated in line with the Environmental laws of Kwara State.
Therefore, he warned violators to stop deforestation in Kwara State and join hands with the state government to eradicate illegal felling of trees and sustain a clean and healthy environment for kwarans.
Usman revealed more importantly that over 10 heavy-duty lorries were apprehended during the exercise.
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