August 19, (THEWILL) — Members of the Bayelsa Timber Dealers Association are protesting the closure of all forests across the state’s eight local government areas since January 2025. They lament that the shutdown has kept them out of business for over eight months. The group stated that the timber trade predates the creation of Bayelsa State and has always maintained a harmonious relationship with past and present governments.
Speaking to newsmen in Yenagoa, the President of the Central Timber Dealers Association of Bayelsa State, Amos Lucky Erepadei, stated that the state government’s decision to close all forests was made without justifiable reason or prior notification. He emphasised that the action has negatively affected over 85% of Bayelsans who rely on the timber business for survival. Erepadei noted that timber is one business where Bayelsa indigenes have a comparative advantage with little to no non-indigenous participation.
Erepadei further pointed out that the timber business is a legitimate one across the country and that the association’s members have consistently paid all required taxes to the state government. He expressed dismay that the government would close the forests without making adequate provisions for those directly impacted by the sudden action. He appealed to the Senator Douye Diri-led administration to consider the plight of timber dealers, noting that the harsh economic conditions in the state and country are taking an excruciating toll on them.
“We are not doing illegal business, and I see no reason why the state government would just wake up and suddenly place a ban on forestry activities without putting into consideration the negative impact this action is having on timber dealers across the state. We voted for this government and shouldn’t be repaid with bad coins.
“We are pleading with the state government not to compound the harsh economic situation we are currently passing through with the sudden closure of the forests and our businesses”, he stressed.
According to Erepadei, his association, which comprises all timber dealers in the state’s communities, was not invited to a recent public hearing held by the State House of Assembly on a bill concerning tree felling and logging activities. He stated that the members feel cheated, undervalued, and treated with contempt due to the state lawmakers’ failure to extend an invitation. “We heard that a public hearing was held on a forestry bill without a critical group like us making any input”, he added.
He also noted that his association contributes over 80% of the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). He added that Bayelsa is predominantly a civil service state with no visible companies or industries that can generate taxes, boost IGR, or mop up the teeming unemployed youth.
A member of the association and Chairman of the All States Timber Dealers Association of Bayelsa State, Douglas Precious, also stressed that the timber business generates over 3,000 employment opportunities for Bayelsa youths. He warned that if the ban on forestry activities continues, it could lead to unrest and an increase in crime.
In his words, “There is no community without hoodlums, but with the active and thriving timber and wood businesses in the state, it has gone a long way in drastically reducing crimes among the youths in the state because the youths are not idle but are engaged in various aspects of the business.”
Precious lamented the state government’s “nonchalant attitude” toward the matter, stating that all efforts to get Deputy Governor Senator Lawrence Ewhrukjakpo to intervene have been unsuccessful. He also bemoaned the insensitivity of the state’s Commissioner for Environment, Ben Ololo, who he claims has done nothing to resolve the issue. “We have worked harmoniously with many past Commissioners of Environment and are ready to work with the current one”, he said.
He stated that the association would have no alternative but to embark on a peaceful protest if their demands are not met.
“While we also decry multiple taxation on our members by various revenue collection agencies, we call on the state government to beam its searchlight on revenue collection agencies that are not remitting the actual amount they generated to the government coffers. We have a lot of information to reveal to the governor should he invite us to a roundtable discussion. They also collected fees from us under the guise of planting more trees; can they prove how many trees they have planted since they have been collecting fees for planting of trees, as they claimed?”
Amos Okioma is a Correspondent at THEWILL
