Ifere Paul|5 July 2016|10:05am
I thank Agba Jalingo and Jonathan Abang Ugbal for brainstorming to pioneer one of the best program to ever come to Cross River State-The Dialogue with Agba Jalingo.
I thank God that I am born a Cross Riverian, and that young Cross Riverians like Agba and Ugbal will be pioneering incisive discussions on Cross River State's burning issues.
Indeed, their inaugural edition brought so much to the table. The topic was the controversial digital superhighway…one of the signature projects of His Excellency, Prof Ben Ayade. It is more interesting that Agba and Ugbal find time to make extracts both in audio and video and shared same on YouTube to give members of the public and Cross Riverians in diaspora and those outside the State to follow in the discourse.
Their guests, Comrade Odey Oyama and Mr Tony Undiandeye were those who have been in the pivotal seat of discussions for and against the superhighway.
Well, I have also been in the forefront of the discussion for the needful to be done before the construction of the superhighway. I still state that issues affecting superhighway if not properly addressed, then the superhighway will not be a super project to pursue afterall.
I commend Comrade Oyama for his indept research on the issues as they affect the indigenes and natives of the communities that the superhighway has rendered IDPs in their native lands. In fact, Comrade Oyama brought out the cluelessness of the government of Ben Ayade and his various appointees as regard Environmental Impact Assessment of the superhighway.
Mr Tony Undiandeye had no facts to back up his arguments. He depended so much on circulated facts by the government of Ben Ayade, without making research himself into the pressing issues before he appeared on the program.
Clearly, Mr Tony does not understand that 250 Million matured trees that will be deforested are not of the same value with the 500 Million seedlings and immature trees promised by the government. The cost of a matured tree of 100 years as is the case of the Cross River Forest Reserve in Ekuri, can pay for 5 thousand trees. That is, one matured tree equals to 5000 trees.
So, stressing that government is going to plant 5 Million trees which its survival after planting is unsure and which has no economic value as nursery is unnecessary and inconsequential.
Let me also make clear that the city of Beijing in China as was cited by Mr Tony, has the largest green city gardens in the world. The city Hangzhou, located in the central eastern part of China is one of the greenest cities and most romantic biodiverse, and horticultural city of the world. The city of Dalian in the northeastern part of China in Liaoning Province is one of the city with carbon sinking flowers in almost all the city expressways, in fact, the first after Finland, and one which its development was built on green city evolution. Dalian has one of the biggest Square after RenMin Square of Beijing. One that is considered one of the best green areas in Asia. Those who have been to China can also agree here that all Chinese superhighways has trees and flowers overlying the middle and both sides of the expressway.
It is also very important that I inform Mr Tony that China is one of the biggest countries in the world. It is also separated with different forest belts. It has one of the largest Tropical Rainforest in Asia. Located in Yunan Province. China also houses the largest Tropical Monsoon Forests in Jialongping. China concentrated most of it's development in part, to areas where you don't find forest. While also retaining the southern, eastern, and western forest lands for agricultural activities, especially in areas of palm plantations and rubber plantation.
I don't think it is necessary to compare developed countries that can mitigate weather elements as a result of deforestation to Cross River State that can barely survive a heavy downpour. Britain alone develops Green Zones that can compete with our forests in Cross River State all put together. Not to talk about USA that plants over 10,000 trees every other day to limit the impact of tornadoes, hurricanes, and wildfires. The city of New York alone planted over 10 Million trees between October last year and May this year. They are still planting.
Advocating for deforestation of the forest reseves in Cross River State for a superhighway is logically unsound. We should be reminded that Japan deforested the whole of Fukushima to build it nuclear reactors and industrial complexes. A development agenda that took Japan about 40 years to build was wiped out in just 11 hours when a a hurricane passed through Fukushima and triggered an earthquake. Deforestation for development can cause a lot of environmental imbalances that can trigger unpleasant weather and or environmental disasters.
I am not against the superhighway, but those supporting it should make sure that no forest is deforested. The government should re-route it through areas that has no forest reserves. Those whose economic lands has been overtaken by the route the superhighway, should be properly compensated. Government should as a matter of urgency, rescind on the 10km revocation of lands on either side of the road.
Government should seek for lands from communities where they intend to build their new cities, banana cities, rice cities, and energy cities, and or any other cities.
We cannot go on pretending all is okay to bulldoze the National Park, Cross River State Forest Parks in the name of superhighway because we are made to believe that other nations did same. Or that, other nations do no longer have forests that they can protect.
Ifere Paul
Is a Public Policy Analyst