Date: 2013-03-15

Mr Kayode Towoju, Kwara Commissioner for Environment and Forestry, has reminded producers of charcoal in the state that there was a law in force prohibiting the practise.

Towoju gave the warning on Thursday when members of Forestry Task Force arrested a truck load of charcoal at Eyenkorin in Asa Local Government Area of the state.

He said there was a Charcoal Prohibition Law of 2005 that imposed a fine of N50 000 or one year imprisonment or both for anyone caught in illegal charcoal production.

The commissioner said the illegal charcoal producers illegally cut down trees to make charcoal.

Towoju declared that the state government had placed premium on afforestation and vowed that government would not spare anyone caught depleting the forest trees.

“Charcoal production was prohibited in the state to conserve our forests, minimise climate change and avert desertification and flood,” the commissioner said.

He said the task force had been mandated to comb the nooks and crannies of the state to check this unlawful act.

Towoju added that the state government would plant two million trees to prevent deforestation.

He said the task force on forest monitoring would be empowered to be able to monitor the forest to save it from the activities of the illegal poachers. 

NAN