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Environmental Prince Odey Oyama
By Akpan David, Calabar
The people of Effi Community in Ikom Local Government Area of Cross River State are divided and in fears as increasing ‘undocumented’ Chinese still streaming into and taking possessions of their ancestral forests.
They are reported to be prospecting for a number of natural minerals aside the forest resources they are alleged to be plundering.
According to sources, the Chinese are alleged to have compromised key stakeholders in Effi community, including some traditional rulers and certain persons, with mouthwatering sums of money which enable them to freely penetrate reserved forests.
They are even said to have established furniture firms, using resources from the community forests as raw materials.
These were disclosed after a consultative round-table meeting in Calabar by a coalition of civil society organizations under the name, CAILAMA, Coalition Against Illegal Logging And Mining Activities In Cross Rier State, led by an environmental expert, Prince Odey Oyama of Rainforest Resources and Development Centre (RRDC).
The forum brainstormed on what they described as audacious and covert incursion of the ‘uncertified Chinese Foreign Nationals’ into the Effi Community Forest in Okuni town.
According to CAILAMA, they also alleged that from their findings, the Chinese were also sauntering into the Ukpon River Forest Reserve.
In their statement after the meeting, “The potential threats this brazen incursion poses to Wildlife resources in the region serious dangers to, in particular, the Oban Hills Division of the Cross River National Park in the near future.”
CAILAMA said they will explore legal strategies relevant to combat the wanton deforestation and degradation of the State’s forest resources, wildlife trafficking and other forestry crimes and offenses.
“We will file suits in courts of competent jurisdiction as and when necessary, against local forest bandits and their collaborating external syndicates.
Explaining further, Oyama maintained that, “The Chinese are alleged to be supported by the Effi Traditional Council of Chiefs acting in concert with one Barrister Ichire Imo Okim in this unwholesome development.
“The scenario on the ground is that the major supporters of the Chinese incursion have been totally blinded by the financial and material benefits they hope to derive from the operations; and have therefore paid no attention whatsoever, to the inherent dangers.”
According to Oyama, the alleged collaborators have refused to unmask the Chinese nationals, and their diplomatic status has so far remained undisclosed.
Oyama alleged further that, security clearances and Immigration protocols of the Chinese as well as their expatriate quotas issued to them by the Ministry of Interior to carry out business in Okuni Community, has not been disclosed.
Authorities at Nigeria Immigration Service in Calabar said they invited the Chinese, held a meeting with all concerned gew weeks ago, and are soon coming out with results of their investigation.
In his reaction, lawyer to the Effi community and entire Okuni, Ichire Imo Okim explained that the Chinese have valid immigration papers as well as valid agreement with the Effi community.
“The Immigration authorities interfaced with them in Calabar recently. The chinese are not into wood logging even though the State government has lifted ban on logging.
“The local chiefs have not given anybody even an inch of the land. I have told them that only the State forestry commission has power to licence anyone to go into the forests.
“The Chinese have factories in Lagos and want to establish one in Cross River to do furnitures, and local timber dealers have assured them of raw materials.
“The Chinese initially wanted to buy the entire land, saying what they want to do was capital intensive but we refused. They asked for a five year lease, we refused. The chiefs wanted to take rent for 30 years, but I advised against it. We have negotiated for N6m for ten years subject for renegotiations. They have agreed to be involved in community projects, initiate their own independent community project and offer substantial scholarships to Effi children up to University level.
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