Illegal Cross-border Timber Trade Costs Cameroon Fortunes

The timber is stolen from Cameroon by illegal loggers, sawn and floated in massive rafts down the Cross River into Nigeria. 

By Azore Opio

Much of the timber that passes through Ebonyi or Akwa Ibom States in Nigeria originates in the South West Region of Cameroon, a survey by the Nigerian Anti-deforestation Task Force (ATF) reveals.

The ATF was created to protect the Cross River State from continually losing its forests to illegal timber dealers.

According to the ATF, Cameroon realizes zero revenue from this illegal timber smuggling. While Cameroon gains nothing from the cross-border smuggling of timber, its neighbour Nigeria equally loses billions of Naira due to the illegal timber trade.

But Nigeria is not sleeping on these shady timber deals.

After sustained cooperation, the Cross River State represented by its Governor Liyel Imoke and Pandrillus in 2011, struck an agreement and installed Pandrillus’ founder and co-director, Peter Jenkins, as chairman of the Cross River State Anti-deforestation Task Force.

In Nigeria, as in Cameroon, illegal timber dealers conspire with villagers, top government officials and highly placed politicians to ‘poach’ on timber. Aided by weak or non-existent enforcement and monitoring, the illegal loggers, cut, saw and smuggle timber with impunity.

As soon as Jenkins took the reins of ATF, he leapt into action and since January 2012, the task force has seized over 100 chainsaws, seven boat engines, four water pumps and several billion Naira’s worth of timber.

It also confiscated several vehicles carrying timber, fined the owners and caused the conviction of an illegal timber dealer. Several cases are in the judicial queue.

The war against illegal timber dealers continue.