Taraba State Government through its Task Force on Environmental Protection, Public Safety, and Prohibition of Land Degradation has said that the present campaign to reduce tree burning for charcoal is motivated by concerns about desert encroachment and other forms of environmental degradation.
The state has seen an outcry over the increased cost of charcoal, which is being driven principally by the continuous campaign to reduce unlawful tree-cutting.
Some families said that the crisis has caused further difficulty, particularly in light of the high cost of gas and fuel for home usage.
However, the government, through the chairman of the task group, Gen. Jeremiah Faransa, stated that it is aware of the difficulties.
He pointed out that the state government intends to restrict the illicit removal of economic trees. He went on to say that a cartel is involved in unlawful tree burning and that the state is losing ground to these criminal operations.
According to him, charcoal has become an export commodity from the state, and loggers’ operations must be monitored.
He emphasized that in the future, people who chop trees must also plant more and that the current burning of trees for charcoal in Taraba State only enriches the cartel that resells the product outside the state.
He said:
“The charcoal is sold in Jalingo for N4,500 but resold at N12,000 in Abuja. The cartel is the one benefiting.”
Faransa stated that the state administration is searching for new solutions to ease people’s suffering other than using charcoal.
He insisted that the Taraba state government does not oppose the use of firewood for cooking, but rather frowns on the rash removal of commercial trees.
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cc: Daily Post Ng
