By Festus Ahon

ASABA—DELTA State Government has been urged to enforce the ban on handsaw timber operators and forestry laws to protect forest and designated forest reserves in different parts of the state.

A forum of Non-Governmental Organizations, NGOs, in the state after a stakeholders meeting in Asaba, also called on residents of the state to refrain from politicizing environmental issues by partnering the Ministry of Environment and other stakeholders “for a safe and clean Delta State.”

The  forum, in a statement by its coordinator, Deacon Odugala Okezi and the Secretary, Chief Greg Osamenjor, frowned at the deforestation that had been going on in the state amidst other environmentally unfriendly activities which, according to it,  “portend grave environmental consequences for the state.”