The Kwara State House of Assembly has called on Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to enforce the provisions of the Kwara State Charcoal Production Prohibition Law, emphasizing the need to prosecute individuals or groups violating the ban. This resolution was part of a series of decisions reached at the House plenary session held on Tuesday.
The call came following a Motion on Notice titled “Urgent Need to Enforce Existing Laws against Charcoal Production and Transportation in Kwara,” sponsored by Hon. Halidu Danbaba, who represents the Kaiama/Kemanji/Wajibe Constituency under the All Progressives Congress (APC).
While presenting the motion, Hon. Danbaba expressed grave concern over the widespread and illegal production and movement of charcoal within the state. He stressed that these activities are contributing to rapid deforestation, environmental degradation, and the destruction of biodiversity.
He noted that such environmental harm has serious implications for the livelihoods of residents, especially those who rely on forest resources for survival.
The lawmaker warned that the unchecked exploitation of forests—particularly in the Kaiama axis and other parts of Kwara North—is accelerating forest depletion. He pointed out that this trend, if not urgently addressed, would adversely affect climate resilience, food security, and water availability for current and future generations.
Danbaba lamented that despite the presence of environmental protection laws and forestry regulations aimed at curbing logging and charcoal production, there remained a glaring lack of enforcement by relevant authorities.
He cautioned that without immediate and decisive regulatory intervention, the state could face irreversible ecological damage, increased vulnerability to diseases, loss of lives, and a significant decline in government revenue.
In response to the motion, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, read out the resolutions of the Assembly. He called on Governor AbdulRazaq to instruct the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, alongside the Commissioner for Environment, to ensure the full enforcement of the existing law to serve as a deterrent to potential violators.
Furthermore, the House directed the Ministry of Environment and the State Environmental Protection Agency to step up surveillance activities to stop the illegal production and transportation of charcoal across the state. Particular attention was drawn to the notorious hotspots of Kaiama and Baruten Local Government Areas in Kwara North, which are reportedly epicenters of illegal charcoal operations.
To strengthen legislative oversight, the Assembly also mandated its Committee on Environment and Forestry to embark on an investigative visit to Kaiama and other affected regions to assess the scale of illegal activities. The committee is expected to recommend further legislative or policy actions based on its findings.
In addition, the lawmakers urged the Ministry of Communication to intensify public sensitization campaigns to educate citizens on the immediate and long-term consequences of large-scale charcoal production. The House emphasized that awareness is key to gaining public support for the enforcement of environmental laws.
In a related legislative development, the Assembly also passed the first reading of a Bill to re-enact the Area Courts Law. The proposed law seeks to establish a framework for the constitution of Area Courts and make further provisions for the effective administration of justice within the state.