South-East: Environmentalist calls for action against land grabbing, derorestation

On May 19, 2023

An environmentalist, Dr Kelechukwu Okezie, has called on the governments of the South-East geopolitical zone to take action to stem the illicit land grabbing and forest degradation to save the environment.

He made the call at a press conference on Thursday in Abakaliki which was attended by key stakeholders, including government officials, traditional rulers and members of civil society organisations (CSOs).

Okezie, the Executive Director of Neighbourhood Environment Watch Foundation (NEWF), argued that the state of the environment and the massive deforestation going on in all the states in the South-East zone called for concern.

He explained that there was a massive disappearance of forests, including virgin and government forests reserves across the zone.

According to him, NEWF has been working in partnership with the Women Environmental Programme (WEP) to address issues of land grabbing and forest degradation in the south-East.

He said that there was a need for urgent action through the strengthening of existing extant environmental laws to stem the tide of the current illicit activities on the environment.

“No doubt, urgent and ambitious climate action and the protection and preservation of forests are critical for sustaining all life on earth, including our own.

“Deforestation is not only causing climate change, but climate change is also contributing to further deforestation and forest degradation, setting in motion a vicious cycle with devastating effects.

“Despite global commitments to fight climate change and save the world’s forests, deforestation and forest degradation continue to take place at alarming rates.

“Over the past years, the South-East region of Nigeria has witnessed an alarming increase in land grabbing activities, leading to widespread deforestation and the loss of critical ecosystems.

“Forests, which are essential for biodiversity, climate regulation, and providing livelihoods for local communities, are being extensively cleared for agricultural expansion; solid minerals extraction, logging, housing, and other unsustainable practices,” Okezie said.