The Alarming Surge In Deforestation Across Delta State

By Moses Darah & Julius Darah
Tuesday, July 29, 2025

The recent surge in deforestation across Delta State is not only alarming but poses an existential threat to our environmental sustainability and ecological balance if urgent action is not taken to address the trend.

This activity, popularly referred to as “Get and Clear”, is characterized by its indiscriminate logging of trees, regardless of species or size. It has evolved into a booming business, supplying wood to a Chinese firm based in Benin City, Edo State. Ironically, the Edo State Government — known for its firm environmental policies — has banned the exploitation of its own forest resources by this same company. Instead, it has redirected the pressure to neighbouring Delta State, which lacks such strict regulatory controls.

This policy loophole has left Delta’s forests vulnerable. With little to no regulation, vast stretches of open forest are now being ravaged by scavengers who are felling trees indiscriminately to feed the demands of the Edo-based company.

Even more troubling is the fact that Edo State collects taxes of up to ₦100,000 per truckload of wood, despite having banned tree cutting within its territory. This paradox has turned the destruction of Delta’s forests into a profitable enterprise for some, but one whose long-term consequences far outweigh the short-term financial benefits.

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The Delta State Government must rise to this challenge. It is imperative to either completely halt these activities or regulate them effectively to prevent further environmental degradation. Such regulation should aim to restore control over our forest resources, create sustainable job opportunities, and protect the ecological future of our communities.