By Tina George, Minna
The Niger state Commissioner for Environment and Forestry, Honorable Idris Jibril Aminu has decried the incessant rate of felling of trees in the state as the state is gradually becoming a desert.
He said that over 60 per cent of the forest across Niger state has been lost to illegal felling of trees.
Speaking to newsmen in Minna, Aminu said that government has embarked on aggressive sensitization, pleading and warning against the felling of trees but it has not yielded any result as the activities seem to have increased.
“We will not fold our hands and see our forest fold up. Because if we do not take these steps, it will affect the generation to come. Even now, Niger state is gradually becoming a plain land. “
Speaking to newsmen in Minna, Aminu lamented that despite the deployment of green guards and revocation of all licenses of timber producers, the activity still continues albeit illegally.
“Because of the negative effect of deforestation in the state, the government decided to revoke all licenses of timber producers. Anyone cutting down trees in our forest now have no licence and is engaging in the activity illegally.”
The Commissioner further disclosed that 50 people were caught in Bida, Mokwa, Lapai, Tegina, Suleja and Pandogari for felling trees for charcoal adding that they were arrested and charged to court.
“They were all charged N100,000 penalty or two years imprisonment but because the Magistrate considered that they were first offenders and had no much money, the penalty was reduced to N20,000,” he said.
