The Cross River State House of Assembly (CRHA), has intervened in the face up between Ekuri forest community and a timber investor, Ezemac international (Nig.) limited, charging all parties to sheath their swords while due process is on to resolve all issues.
The Ekuri community had accused Ezemac International (Nig.) limited of logging illegally in their forest without due process and at the same time using the military and the police to harass the community members.
In view of this, the State House of Assembly Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources met on Tuesday, January 27 with members of the aggrieved Ekuri community (old and new), Ezemac International (Nig.) limited and some stakeholders at the Assembly complex where all parties presented their positions.
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At the meeting, Ekuri community led by one of their community leaders, Dr. Martins Egot, told the committee that, “the State Forestry Commission is the custodian of the forest and should be more professional in doing their job”.
He accused Ezemac of doing large scale logging in Ekuri without any government permission, no Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), and others and these are issues the Commission should look into before giving permits of any sort for logging in the state.
Egot said for the interest of the state and the community, “the authorities concerned should do the right thing”.
Egot in their petition said, “lawful community forest governance is being undermined by force and intimidation. Law enforcement actions appear to favour corporate interests over justice and environmental protection”.
In the interest of peace, justice, environmental sustainability, and respect for community rights, he said the New Ekuri community has called for the “immediate removal of all Ezemac equipment from New Ekuri Community Forest; a transparent investigation into the legality of Ezemac’s operations.
“An independent environmental damage assessment; an injunction restraining Ezemac and its agents from entering the forest pending investigations; protection of community leaders and youths from harassment and criminalisation; and accountability for any violations of environmental and community rights”.
One of the lawmakers at the meeting, Hon. Egbe Egbe Abeng, representing Obubra II in CRHA, condemned the actions of Ezemac entering Ekuri forest with bulldozers without permission and paying a paltry sum of N1 million for a year to the community was wrong and exploitative.
Abeng who is popularly known as Jabengo, charged Ezemac to do the needful and stop using the military and the police to intimidate the people of Ekuri.
Another member, Hon. Linus Etim, representing Akamkpa II State Constituency, said, “we will support the community in totality. They have the right to tell you (Ezemac) to leave their forest if certain things are not done. Giving N1 million to log in the forest for a whole year is “man’s inhumanity to man.
“You go with the military to intimidate the people is wrong. The forest in Akamkpa is destroyed and if at all there is an agreement, it has expired. Our forest in Akamkpa is gone. Nobody is against the government from collecting revenue but you must negotiate well with the community or you leave”.
The member representing Akamkpa 1 State Constituency, Hon. Okon Owuna, said he was happy to hear from the Forestry Commission’s Chairman that Ekuri forest is a community forest and “from documents, government has given him (Ezemac) permit to work in government reserves and not community forest” but he is logging in community forest.
Owuna said, Ezemac “has to comply with the law and negotiate with the community. He must log in a sustainable manner. If you carry bulldozer into the forest, it is destruction. So it is the right of the community to say they don’t like the way you are managing their forest. If Ezemac is not ready to agree with the community for peace to reign let him leave”.
The Managing Director, Ezemac International, Mr. Ezenwa Igwe, was not at the meeting but was represented by his Manager, Mr. Steven Asuwac who admitted that, “in 2023 we were working in Agoi Ekpo and we were told that we trespassed into Ekuri forest.
“We pleaded with them for encroaching and we paid N5 million for the encroachment and brought a cow to appease the community.
After that, he said “in 2025, we had a good conversation with the Clan head who asked us to register with the Timber Association in the community. We registered as timber dealer and employed three people from New Ekuri community.
He denied allegations that Ezemac International used bulldozers to cut down trees, saying what they use is chain saw and “we registered with N1million. We use the bulldozer for the road”.
The Chairman of the Forestry Commission, Dr. George Oben-Etchi, admitted that Ezemac had a permit to log in the state and “we cannot describe his business as illegal business… and based on our laws Ezemac is following due process”.
He however said that Ezemac was given permit to operate in government reserves forest and even though Ekuri’s forest is a community forest, but must get permit from the commission and also negotiate with the community if they so wish. That for the Ekuri community to collect money from Ezemac means there is a transaction.
The Chairman of Akamkpa Local Government Area (LGA), Hon. Felix Akposi, who had earlier intervened with both parties on the forest matter, appealed for a peaceful resolution of the conflict between Ekuri community and Ezemac, noting that there is no issue of illegal logging since there is evidence of transactions except for this year.
Ruling on the matter, the Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources, Hon. Bette Obi, submitted, “we are representing our people and we must talk for our people but we will protect the investor if he is doing the right thing”.
He blamed the Commission for not doing its work as what “Ezemac logs and carries out of the forest is not in the forestry’s records…We will call the Forestry Commission to come back and sit with us so that we can streamline the law”.
He said “it is established that Ezemac is already operating in Ekuri and it is not illegal except illegal in the eyes of government whether written or not. Ezemac should not undermine the Ekuri community.
“By the time the Forestry Commission comes and we sit, we will streamline all issues with the governor because as it is, we are loosing revenue. The bulldozer and other things should be paid for. The types and numbers of wood logged not known. We must follow due process”.
He charged the Ekuri community to go back and meet then come out with their position on the matter and submit to the Assembly.
The Committee Chairman asked Ezemac to meet with the Ekuri community and resolve issues and should also withdraw all matters with the police concerning the matter in question.
