Group raises alarm over illegal alteration of park boundaries

An environmental organization, Rainforest Resource and Development Centre (RRDC), has drawn attention to the ongoing illegal alteration of the Cross River National Park. 

In a letter addressed to the minister of Environment signed by Dr Odey Oyama, the RRDC alleged that a vast portion of the Cross River forests have been illegally depleted by the activities of wood loggers despite a state law banning deforestation.

Oyama said the procedures adopted by the National Park Service in the alteration of the Oban Division of the Cross River National Park were grossly in conflict with the applicable law; hence an abuse of constituted authority. 

He said the failure to follow the procedure prescribed by law in altering the gazetted boundary of the park, in a case where strict preconditions were stipulated in the provisions, is a fundamental omission which rendered the entire ongoing exercise null and void, however well intentioned. 

“Therefore, RRDC hereby demands that the ongoing park boundary alteration exercise being conducted by the management of the Cross River National Park that are in contravention of the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, be halted.

The environmentalist also contended that the illegal activities inside the legally defined boundary of the park are an infraction of both the civil and criminal laws regulating the management of the park, and demanded that the NPS should urgently commence legal actions against companies that have been involved in illegal agricultural activities within the gazetted boundary of the park.

Mrs Caroline Olory who signed a letter on behalf of the Conservator of the Park reacted to an earlier letter by the group saying: “The management of Cross River National Park is dismayed at your expressed ignorance of the fact that Oban Division of the Park currently operates a dual boundary.”