As part of effort to check indiscriminate felling of trees, the Adamawa State House of Assembly on Wednesday, adopted a report prescribing 3 months jail term or N20, 000 fine on anyone who cuts down a single tree.
Equally, the assembly has stipulated 6 months prison term or N80, 000 fine or both on any person who without valid permit, uproots, burns, strips of the back or leaves of a tree; sets fire on any tree or shrub or damages in any way or destroys a tree.
The legislators further resolved that any official visitor to the state shall be allowed to plant a tree and also adopted that there shall be strict supervision or inspection of trees at the state and LG levels.
These were part of the recommendations of a report on a bill for a law to provide for planting of trees in and around premises by individuals and beside roads, streets and government premises by the state and LGCs adopted.
The report was earlier presented before the assembly by the chairman committee on environment and natural resources development and member representing Yola South constituency, Hon. Kabiru Mijinyawa, for consideration and adoption.
According to the committee, adopting its recommendations as contained therein the report and passing it will check destruction of forest which is seriously exposing the society to danger.
It said that the society is currently feeling the effects of climate change and attributed it to the rate at which citizens cut down trees without making proportionate effect at replanting.
It added that the merit of the legislation is to ensure trees are conserved, protected and managed in a manner that meet the needs of the present generation without compromising the rights of future generation by safeguarding the ecological benefits that accrues from tree planting.
The committee informed the assembly that due to cost of cooking gas and kerosine, people use fire woods and charcoal so as to cook food, and urged the assembly to adopt and subsequently pass the bill so as to checkmate it.
Some of the legislators who debated during the session include; Hon. Hammantukur Yetisuri(Jada Mbulo), Majority Leader, Hon. Japhet Kefas(Gombi), Hon. Bathiya Wesley(Hong), Hon. Shuaibu Babas( Fufore Gurin), Hon. Kabiru Mijinyawa(Yola South) among others.
After clause by clause consideration of the report and adoption, the speaker of the assembly, Rt. Hon. Aminu Iya Abbas, directed the clerk to slate the bill for 3rd reading at the next legislative day.
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