By Anietie Akpan
The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has commenced investigation into allegations of illegal logging in forest community of Ekuri in Akamkpa Local Government Area (LGA) of Cross River State.
Civil Society Organizations in the state, Rainforest Resource & Development Centre (RRDC), led by its Executive Director, Prince Odey Oyama and the Panacea for Developmental and Infrastructural Challenges for Africa Initiative (PADIC-Africa) led by Dr. Martins Egot who is also a Community Leader in New Ekuri, had separately petitioned NESREA calling for the investigation of the alleged illegal logging activities of Ezemac International limited in Ekuri forest (old and new).
The groups said that between January 9 12, 2026, “Ezemac International (Nig) Ltd, through its Managing Director, Mr. Ezenwa Igwe, unlawfully deployed: two bulldozers, one excavator, 4–5 heavy-duty trucks into New Ekuri Community Forest, without: community consent, lawful forest allocation, valid export authorisation. The logging was unsustainable, unplanned, and targeted mature forest estates within a protected ecological corridor. RRDC charged the Director – General/CEO NESREA to, “conduct an urgent compliance and enforcement inspection; export-related activities of the company be investigated; compliance with the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Act, CAP. E12, as well as the NESREA Act, No.25 of 31st July 2007, be examined.
“Appropriate sanctions be applied where violations are established as this intervention is critical to ensuring that the Executive Order is not undermined at the implementation stage”.
Similarly, 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 agentsfrom 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”.
In view of this, NESREA has swung into action in the state to establish the veracity or otherwise of the petitions to ensure that the presidential order on logging for export is not violated.
Speaking at the briefing by PADIC-Africa in Calabar on Thursday, January 22, the Director/State Coordinator, NESREA, Comrade Raymond Anunobi, said their men are in the state as directed by the Director General, Prof. Innocent Bariate Barikor to investigate issues raised by the petitioners.
He said, “we are here to ensure that the laws are binding and properly regulated and we are assuring you and Nigerians that justice will be done”.
Anunobi warned that, “anyone found culpable will be dealt with according to the laws. We got your petitions and we will go on with our mandatory investigation”.
He appealed to PADIC-Africa and others to always draw the attention of NESREA, “at any point in time there is such incursion. Please draw our attention to it. Let us act as first respondents. It will save you, to a great extent, the embarrassment of the law enforcement agencies because we are custodians of the law ourselves”.
In a reaction, the Chief Executive Officer of Ezemac International Limited, Mr Igwe, denied all allegations raised by the community saying there is nothing like illegal logging activities in New Ekuri protected community forest.
“I have a permit. I generate revenue for the state government and the local government as well. I have workers, over 180 workers cut across Cross River. I have a standard factory”, he stated.
On whether he logs for export, Igwe said, “I recycle my wood. I don’t carry wood outside the state. If I am doing illegal logging I cannot have a factory in Cross River State. I process my wood in Ugep, Cross River. I do doors. If it is illegal, I don’t think that the Forestry Commission will give me documents. If it is illegal, I don’t think that I will have government back up in what I am doing. So I am not doing illegal logging”.
Meanwhile the State House of Assembly is expected to meet with all parties concerned on the matter, January 27 to hear first hand and resolve all issues accordingly.
