The Okuni Community Forest, the Cross River South Forest Reserve and the Oban Division of the Cross River National Park are under serious threats of extinction. The Park is globally known to represent the single most extensive biodiversity hotspot in Nigeria. It is listed in the Ecosystem Profile as Priority Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) and Conservation Corridors in the Guinean Forests of West Africa Biodiversity Hotspot; and also as an ‘Exceptional Priority Site’ in the Regional Action Plan for the Conservation of the Nigeria-Cameroon Chimpanzee produced by the IUCN/SSC Primate Specialist Group in 2011.
The report from the preliminary survey carried out by the Rainforest Resource and Development Centre (RRDC) under the sponsorship of Rainforest Rescue – Germany, has revealed serious threats on Okuni Community Forest, the Cross River South Forest Reserve as well as the Oban Division of the Cross River National Park in the Cross River State of Nigeria, by the activities of a cartel of illegal loggers. By the letter of RRDC dated 11 – 05 – 2021, referenced RRDC – 2021/011, copy of which is hereto attached, His Excellency the Governor of Cross River State of Nigeria has been dully notified of the imminent danger and has accordingly been requested to take prompt action.
This letter is therefore a call for Global action, requesting you to kindly use your good offices to write to His Excellency, Governor Ben Ayade; and emphasize the need for him and his administration to take urgent action to stem this imminent danger to one of the most valuable pristine natural Tropical High Forest ecosystems still existing in the West Coast region of the African continent. We also implore you to place notices on your respective platforms and websites to assist us in spreading this message globally, thereby facilitating a rapid International response.
Our request is that you contact His Excellency, The Governor of Cross River State of Nigeria through his WhatsApp and Mobile phone link at: +234 (0) 0803 5560 233; and his email address thus: ayadeleon@gmail.com.
Also, please kindly contact the following important persons in the Government of Cross River State through their mobile phone / WhatsApp contacts:
The Rt. Honourable Speaker
Cross River State House of Assembly
House of Assembly Complex
Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria
Phone/WhatsApp: +234(0) 803 303 9120
The Secretary to the State Government
Governor’s Office
Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria.
Phone/WhatsApp: +234(0)8187096979;
Email: ssgcrs@yahoo.com
The Honourable Commissioner
Ministry of Climate Change and Forestry
Cross River State Forestry Commission
Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria.
Phone/WhatsApp: +234(0) 703 449 1011; Email: donatusetim@yahoo.com
The Chairman
Cross River State Forestry Commission
Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria.
Phone/WhatsApp: +234(0) 802 345 1378; Email: tonyudama@gmail.com
Dr. Pius Tabi Tawo
Chairman,
Cross River State Advisory Council to the Governor
Phone/WhatsApp: +234(0) 802 313 5383.
Email: pt.tawo@yahoo.com
While we look forward to your very rapid response and action, we request you to kindly send to us a copy of your communication to the Governor.
Thank you very much for your kind attention.
Yours faithfully,
Odey Oyama