Reporting by Daily Post indicates that the Cross River State House of Assembly summoned Ezemac International Ltd over allegations of unauthorized entry and logging in the Ekuri community forest. Community residents allege the firm used heavy machinery under security protection to destroy ancestral forests without proper consent and on terms lawmakers described as exploitative.
Lawmakers demanded the firm halt operations pending a fair negotiation, emphasizing that documentation presented allegedly covered government reserves—not protected community lands. The hearing also raised concerns about intimidation and misuse of security agencies in environmental disputes.
The Guardian noted the Ekuri forest as one of the region’s last remaining primary rainforests, while Leadership reported community demands for immediate exit to prevent further ecological damage.
Echotitbits take: Community-led environmental resistance is gaining traction in Nigeria. This case will test whether state institutions prioritize short-term logging revenue over ecological stewardship, community consent, and ancestral land claims—especially in biodiversity-rich Cross River.
Source: Daily Post — https://dailypost.ng/2026/01/29/lawmakers-fault-firm-over-alleged-unauthorised-logging-in-criver-forest/ 2026-01-29
Photo Credit: Daily Post
