The Abia State Ministry of Environment has directed all persons and companies involved in any form of activity relating to the government’s forest reserves to stop forthwith and report to the ministry for discussions and process possible approvals. The directive was contained in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Environment Philemon Ogbonna and issued to newsmen over the weekend in Umuahia, the Abia State capital. According to the statement, the directive has become necessary following various reports received by the ministry that there have been encroachments and unauthorised entries into the forest reserves.
The statement said, “Consequently, all previous approvals from the Ministry of Environment granting permission to any person, group of persons or companies to enter any of the forest reserves in the state are hereby suspended.” It quoted the Ministry of Environment as reiterating its commitment to ensuring that all Abia State Government Forest Reserves are protected from land grabbers and illegal deforestation.