KANO – The Kano State Government has announced a statewide ban on the illegal use of chainsaws for tree cutting, felling or trimming, as part of efforts to curb indiscriminate deforestation and protect the environment.
The State Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, Dr Dahiru Muhammad-Hashim, disclosed this on Tuesday at a news conference in Kano.
Muhammad-Hashim explained that a digital registry of licensed operators and permits had been created, with each permit carrying a QR code for real-time verification.
“Monitoring and Enforcement will be carried out in collaboration with security agencies, local government authorities, traditional institutions, and community forest monitors”
He warned that violators risked fines of ₦500,000, confiscation of equipment and possible imprisonment for operating chainsaws without a license, while those who fell trees without a permit facing ₦250,000 fine per tree in addition to replanting orders.
The commissioner further urged chainsaw operators, institutions, businesses and individuals to comply fully with the new regulation, stressing the government’s commitment to protecting Kano’s environment and strengthening resilience against climate change.(NAN)
