Niger investigates bribery allegations, illegal issuance of license for felling trees

Governor Abubakar Sani Bello has inaugurated a 7-man Administrative panel to investigate the allegations of bribery, illegal issuance of license and permits to wood merchants involved in felling of trees in the state.

Governor Sani Bello inaugurated the committee on Monday at the Government House, Minna, with a charge on the members to be passionate in the discharge of their assignment and not to compromise.

A statement by the Governor’s spokeswoman, Mrs. Mary Noel-Berje explained that the committee members were carefully selected considering the Governor’s passion to ensuring a green environment. He urged the committee members to be diligent in their investigations not just for the present, but for posterity.

Bello lamented that most of the wood merchants were not Nigerlites, as such they were taking advantage of the vulnerability and lack of knowledge of the local people to have access to the forest, noting that the State Government has stopped the issuance of licence to any individual or group of persons to fell trees.

According to him, economic trees like Sheanut, which are said to produce the best charcoals, are mostly the target. The practice, the Governor said has adverse, negative effect on the environment such as desert encroachment which affect water bodies and farmlands.

He then advocated tree planting to replenish the forest

Among the terms of reference for the committee is; to investigate the allegations of bribery, issuance of illegal license and permits to wood merchants, charcoal producers and other forest exploiters.

The committee is to thorough investigate activities of illegal logging and felling of trees; illegal exploitation of forest resources in the state; ascertain those involved and culpable in the illegal activities; as well as recommend appropriate sanctions.

The committee is also to find out the communities where these illegal activities are taking place; ascertain the extent of illegal logging and exploitation of forest resources in the state; and the extent of economic loss to the state government.

The committee has Alhaji Adamu Shuaibu, a former Permanent Secretary in the State, as Chairman, and Mallam Danlami Umar, Director Chieftaincy Affairs, Ministry for Local Government, Community Development and Chieftaincy Affairs as Secretary.

It has three weeks to complete its assignment and submit its report.

Chairman of the committee, Alh. Adamu Shuaibu, while responding, assured the Governor that the committee will carry out the assignment diligently.

Other members of the committee are; Mr. Paul Kolo, Mr. Solomon Sule, Kabiru Barau, while Alhaji Anaruwa Isah and Suleiman Wushishi are to serve as the legal adviser and assistant secretary.