The Edo State Government has commenced the process of forest allocation to prospective timber concessionaires in the state as part of efforts to reopen the state’s forest.
Chairman Forestry Commission, Edward Obiaw, in a statement, urged interested Timber Licensees, Sawmillers, Corporate Organizations and Timber Contractors to pick forest allocation application forms at the Edo State Ministry of Environment and Sustainability.
The statement reads: “It is hereby announced for the information of the general public that as part of the process to lift the ban on forest exploitation in the state, the Edo State Government is hereby requesting all interested Timber Licensees, Sawmillers, Corporate Organizations and Timber Contractors that application forms for forest allocation are available at the Ministry of Environment and Sustainability, Room 17, Ist Floor, Palm House, Sapele Road, Benin City with a treasury receipt of payment of a non-refundable application fee of N200,000 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira).
“All completed application forms are to be addressed and submitted to the Chairman, Forestry Commission within two weeks of this announcement.”
Recall that the government had announced the prohibition of all forms of timber exploitation from Tuesday 31st August, 2021, following the expiration of the three-year circle of 2018/2021 Forest Allocation in the state.