C’River Lawmakers Calls For Payment Of Timber Royalty To Forest Communities

By, Itam Offor 

Cross River Lawmakers have urged the state government to commence the payment of royalty to Forest Communities in the State in line with section 101 of the Forestry Commission Law.

The resolution was passed consequent upon a motion calling on the state government to pay royalty to Forest Communities in the State from when the ban on logging was lifted, sponsored by the member representing Boki 1 Hon. Bette Obi.

Leading debate on the motion, the Lawmaker who also doubles as the chairman House Committee on Agriculture and Forestry, opined that government was yet to resume the payments of royalty to Forest Communities since they lifting of the ban on logging on 10th of August 2023.

Obi stressed the need for government to commence the payment of royalty to benefiting communities in accordance with section 101 of the forestry commission law that provide for disposable of fees and royalty in the ratio of 40:60 to the commission and community respectively.

The Lawmaker recalled that in 2008 the administration of former governor Liyel Imoke placed a moratorium on logging to allow the state to benefit from the United Nations programme on Reducing Emission from Deforestation and Forestry (UN REDD).

He added that illegal logging was on the increase during the period of the ban, which was designed amongst other things, to impact positively on the state by attracting funding. 

Members who spoke in support of the motion emphasized the need for government to resume the payment of royalty to Forest Communities in accordance with the forestry commission law.