By Jesam Ofem
The State Government has expressed delight over the imminent Cross River State Forest Policy.
The State Deputy Governor, Professor Esu stated this while declaring open a two-day Stakeholders Validation Workshop for the Cross River State Forest Policy held at Transcorp Hotel, Calabar.
The Deputy Governor Professor Ivara Ejemot Esu stated that the Senator Ben Ayade-led administration is committed to sustainably managing the forest resources in order to yield environmental goods and services in perpetuity.
The Deputy Governor noted that, the validation of the first ever produced Forest Policy in the state is very dear to the Government and people of the state, adding that, posterity will not forgive us if we fail to put in place guiding strategies as contained in the draft forest policy for the wise management of the renewable valuable resources.
He divulged that investment opportunities abound in the forest sector with available land for afforestation and forest regeneration programmes within our degraded forest resources and community forest.
Prof. Esu expressed deep appreciation to the Cross River State Forest Commission and the State Sustainable Fuel wood Management Project for their efforts towards the drafting and finalization of the forest policy, which is near realization in the validation workshop.
He urged participants at the meeting to give their best to the review, to make for a successful validation of first ever State Forest Policy.
Articulating his views, the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Eteng Jonah Williams, who was represented by the Yakurr I State Constituency member, Rt. Hon. Nelson Ofem, described the Commission's effort as a step in the right direction that will make for social engineering in the forestry sector.
He said the House of Assembly is there to look at the draft policy and ensure that the right thing is done for the betterment of the entire Cross River State.
In his submission, the Deputy Director of Forestry, in the Federal Ministry of Environment, Dr. Sikiru Oladele, stated that the Federal Government will continue to support Cross River State in the maintenance and development of its forest.
He lauded the State Forestry Commission's effort in putting a policy in place for the effective management of its forest and advised that such document must be in conformity with the National Forest Policy.
In his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary of the State Forestry Commission, Mr Timothy Akwaji intimated that, the Stakeholders Meeting is to take a holistic look at a draft document and validate it so that, it can help consolidate the growth of the Forestry Sector.
He remarked that, Cross River is a nature's gift to Nigeria, Africa and the World; and is the most biologically diversified state within the committee of states in Nigeria.
The Permanent Secretary cautioned that it was high time the moratorium that has led to wanton destruction of the forest terminated and called on Government to return Forest Management to the Forestry Commission which has the ability to sustainably manage the Cross River State Forest.
Goodwill messages were presented by various Stakeholders and Forest Experts within and outside the state.
In her remarks, the Secretary of the Technical Working Group, who also doubles as State Focal Person, Sustainable Fuel wood Management Project, Dr. Edu Effiom expressed gratitude to all stakeholders who contributed to the actualization of the draft policy, especially UNDP for funding the entire project.
Dr. Effiom said the Technical Working Group consisted of reputable people in the academia, technocrats, seasoned foresters, community representatives, non-governmental organisations and a host of other critical stakeholders in the Forest Sector.
The event also drew representation from the Department of Forestry, Federal Ministry of Environment and other contingents from Edo and Kaduna States of Nigeria.
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