By Frank Ulom
CALABAR (CONVERSEER) – Women from Ekuri community in Akamkpa Local Government Area of Cross River State have formally petitioned the Cross River State House of Assembly over what they described as the worsening impact of illegal logging on their livelihoods, environment, and food security.
In a petition dated March 26, 2026, and addressed to the Speaker, Elvert Ayambem, the women outlined a range of grievances linked to the activities of loggers operating in the Ekuri forest and its surrounding areas. The document, titled “Illegal Logging in Ekuri and Environs Impacting Negatively on Women, Forest and Biodiversity,” was jointly signed by community representatives including Women Leader Mrs Lawrencia Agbor and several others. The petitioners alleged persistent harassment, depletion of forest resources, and growing threats to food security as major concerns.
According to Vanguard, the women lamented that despite a state government ban on illegal logging, enforcement has remained ineffective, allowing the practice to continue unchecked for years.
According to the petition, the community’s repeated outcry has yielded little response, even as the forest—central to the people’s subsistence—faces increasing exploitation. They claimed that over 200 truckloads of timber leave the forest daily, with attempts by residents to resist the activities often met with intimidation by security personnel reportedly hired by logging operators.
Highlighting infrastructural challenges, the petitioners noted that the heavy-duty trucks used by loggers have exacerbated the already poor condition of the only access road linking the old and new Ekuri. “Sometimes they break down in the middle of the road and remain there for days, making access by our people totally impossible,” the women stated.
They further cited environmental data indicating that approximately 91,000 tonnes of timber are extracted annually from Cross River State due to illegal logging. Referencing findings by Global Forest Watch, the petition noted that more than 540 square miles of tree cover had been lost in Ekuri and its environs as of 2024, raising concerns over biodiversity depletion and ecological imbalance.
The women emphasised that they are disproportionately affected, as the majority are farmers who rely on forest resources for food, fuel, and traditional medicine. They explained that access to these resources has become increasingly difficult, forcing them to travel longer distances into the forest under unsafe conditions. Despite bearing the brunt of the crisis, they argued that women are largely excluded from decision-making processes regarding forest management.
To address the situation, the petitioners called on the Assembly to mandate key government ministries, particularly those responsible for Women Affairs and Youth Development, to actively engage women and youths in Ekuri. They also urged the government to collaborate with conservation groups on reforestation efforts and to establish a clear framework defining legal logging practices within the forest.
The women appealed to the Speaker to intervene decisively, stressing that urgent action is required to halt illegal logging and restore normalcy to the community.
Reacting to the development, the Renevlyn Development Initiative described the petition as a significant step towards environmental advocacy by women in the area. Project Officer, Linda Amadi, said the move reflects growing awareness and determination among Ekuri women to protect their environment and livelihoods.
“We anticipate that the Cross River State House of Assembly will handle this issue with the seriousness it deserves. The forest sustains the Ekuri people and no one understands this better than the women. They have asked for environmental justice and that is what they deserve. Anything short of this is unacceptable,” she said.
