Kwara announces reopening of forest, three months after closure
In a bid to preserve forests as crucial natural resources for the future, the Kwara State Government has announced the re-opening of forests in for sawmilling and forestry related activities within the state.
The Commissioner for Environment, Hajia Nafisat Musa Buge, announced this in Ilorin, the state capital, during an interactive session with officials and key-stakeholders of saw millers, chainsaw operators and plank sellers on Friday.
It would be recalled that the forests were declared closed in January 2025 to enhance natural regeneration of the forests and allow the Ministry gainful opportunity to engage relevant stakeholders towards adopting best practices while pursuing economic activities within the forests’ terrain.
Declaring the forests open, Hajia Buge stated that the initial closure was inevitable and also in response to international reports on the status of Kwara on climate related matters.
She remarked, “The forests play key roles in climate change and in sustaining human lives. Hence, we need to take proactive measures to mitigate the consequences of deforestation.”
“Henceforth, it is a crime to cut economic trees, without replanting,” the Commissioner stated. She lamented how unfair human activities has been to shea butter and locust beans trees, which are both crucial to economic sustenance in both the rural and urban areas.
The Commissioner further urged the attendees to remain committed to their pact with the government, which includes proper registration to practice as sawmillers, renewal by already registered companies and strict adherence to the principle of planting 5 trees in replacement of any tree that is cut down for any purpose while they should also embrace the use of commercial waste management companies in disposing their waste rather than setting them on fire.
Buge equally warned that culprits, including unregistered operators, would be prosecuted, in line with the extant laws of the State, adding that licenses of such companies would be revoked.
