Ekiti state government on Thursday announced a ban on movement of logs and planks at night by individuals or vehicles in any part of the state.
The DAILY POST reports that the State Commissioner for Environment, Chief Bisi Kolawole who made this known in Ado Ekiti said the order was consequent upon the coming into effect of the new Ekiti State Forestry Act 2016.
He said government had also outlawed the use of motor chain-saw for the processing of logs into planks in all forest reserves and free areas around the state.
The Commissioner made this known during a meeting with the Executive members of the four unions operating in the forest industry in the state.
He warned that anyone caught flouting the laws risks 6 months jail term without any option of fine.
The unions include; Timber Association, Saw Millers Association, Timber Lorry Drivers’ Association and Power Saw/Chain Operators Association.
He said the old practice of transporting logs at night as well as illegal processing of logs into planks with motor saws within the state forest reserves had been a major source of leakage in revenue accruable to the state government from the forestry sector.
According to him, such practice made it extremely difficult for government to monitor and regulate the activities of the operators who often reap bountifully from it at the expense of government revenue
The commissioner who appealed to the stakeholders to adhere strictly to all sections of the new forestry law, warned that anyone caught going against the law would be treated as an economic saboteur and prosecuted in the law courts, no matter how highly or lowly placed.
He clarified that the new forestry law bans the movement of logs after 6.00 pm daily, while it outrightly stipulates that there shall be no movement of logs on Sundays.
The Commissioner stressed that any vehicle caught engaging in the transportation of planks illegally acquired would also be made to forfeit both the vehicle and the planks to Government.
He implored all stakeholders in forestry sector to ensure that they obtain necessary papers before they carry out logging activities in the State in order to avoid any embarrassment.
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