By Oboh Linus, Lafia
The Nasarawa State Government has reaffirmed that the ban on charcoal production remains in force as the government intensifies efforts to tackle the impacts of climate change, waste management and flooding.
Barrister Ede Yakubu, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, stated this while speaking with newsmen in Lafia on Wednesday.
Yakubu stated that the state government has announced plans to provide free waste bins to households and commence construction of additional drainage systems in flood-prone areas across the state.
The Permanent Secretary stated that the Ministry, in collaboration with the Nasarawa State Waste Management Authority (NASWAMSA) and the Nasarawa State Environment Protection Agency (NASEPA), has engaged a consultant to provide waste bins at doorsteps.
This, he said, would complement existing waste managers in the state who currently serve only paying households.
Yakubu said indiscriminate charcoal production has led to massive deforestation, land degradation and worsened the impact of climate change in the state.
“People devised a culture of making charcoal as a business; they exploited our forest. All these trees you are seeing are no longer there, and our lands became degraded.
“That is why the government placed a ban on charcoal exploitation. Nobody should enter the forest to produce charcoal; it is illegal.
“The laws are there, policies are there, and enforcement agencies are there. But if we do not change our attitude, all these will not make any impact,” he said.
He said that forest guards have been deployed to designated forests and strategic bushes to enforce the ban and arrest violators.
“Once we see you with charcoal, we arrest you and fine you. The ban has not been lifted. It is still in force. Anyone caught will be adequately dealt with. We have started arresting some, and they are being prosecuted,” he stated.
According to the Permanent Secretary, the state is also working in collaboration with Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes ACReSAL to replant trees in degraded areas.
He noted that trees planted during the last World Environment Day within the Secretariat premises were part of efforts to restore green cover.
Yakubu said the ministry has scaled up sensitisation by visiting schools and tertiary institutions and taught students on how to plant trees.
He added that the Department of Climate Change would soon begin community-to-community campaigns to educate residents on tree planting and environmental conservation. (NAN).
