Edet Ikotidem
Following the recent wind storm that left a trail of destruction in several communities in some parts of the State, the Patriarch of Ibibio land and President General Supreme Council of Akwa Ibom State Traditional Rulers, Ntenyin Dr. Solomon Etuk CFR, has raised a strong alarm against the continued destruction of forests and natural green belts.
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He emphasized that the worsening impact of windstorms and other extreme weather events can be directly linked to human activities, particularly deforestation.
Speaking during a community engagement session, the revered Monarch described the devastation caused by the storm as a wake-up call for urgent environmental action.
Roofs were blown off, trees uprooted, and power lines damaged, leaving many residents displaced and without electricity.
“Our environment is crying out for help,” he stated passionately. “The trees that once protected us from the force of the wind have been cut down to make way for development and farming, but at what cost? We cannot continue like this.”
The monarch noted that in the past, natural tree coverage served as a shield, helping to reduce the velocity of wind and preventing widespread damage. With most of these natural barriers gone, communities are now more vulnerable than ever.
Ntenyin Solomon Etuk called on government agencies, town planners, environmental experts, and civil society organizations to partner in launching aggressive tree-planting campaigns and creating designated green areas in both urban and rural settlements.
“We need deliberate planning that incorporates the planting of trees and establishment of community parks and green zones. These are not luxuries – they are necessities for our survival,” he said.
He also urged local councils to enact by-laws to protect existing trees and penalize illegal logging activities. According to him, development and environmental preservation must go hand-in-hand.
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In a bold and practical move, the first class Monarch advocated the establishment of forest guards to monitor and protect remaining forest areas from illegal logging and encroachment.
He stressed that legislation alone will not solve the problem if there is no one enforcing it on the ground.
“We must move beyond talking and start protecting. Forest Guards should be recruited and trained to patrol vulnerable areas, educate locals, and report infractions. Without this, our forests will keep disappearing at an alarming rate,” he said.
According to him, the presence of forest guards would also create employment opportunities for young people and help build a sense of responsibility and ownership within local communities. He called on the Ministry of Environment and relevant agencies to work with traditional institutions to ensure this becomes a reality.
Ntenyin Etuk emphasized that community engagement is key and proposed that forest guards be selected from within the communities they serve. This, he said, would foster trust, vigilance, and more effective grassroots environmental protection.
Dr Solomon Etuk who is also the Paramount Ruler of Nsit Ubium Local Government Area the call has since received backing from environmental experts and advocacy groups who say that his voice adds weight to a growing concern over climate change and its local effects.
The Nigerian Environmental Society (NES), in a statement, praised the monarch for taking the lead in drawing attention to a long-neglected issue.
“When community leaders speak, people listen,” said Mrs. Grace Udofia, a climate campaigner in Uyo. “We hope his call will spark action from the top down – from government ministries to local residents.”
The traditional ruler concluded by urging young people and schools to participate in environmental issues
‘’The current trend in our community (ies) will expose to greater extent serious destruction of eco system, Even ancient trees made available to us by God to preserve nature , especially for medicinal purposes are ignorantly destroyed for alternative energy for cooking, etc. Researchers must close rangs with traditional rulers in the respective communities to preserve the environment’’
