Edo State Government has banned the production of wood pallets outside sawmills across the state. 

The government alleged that some operators of bench mills have been felling under-aged and under-girth trees for production of pallets. 

In a statement, Commissioner for Environment and Sustainability, Dame Omua Alonge Oni-Okpaku, warned that bench millers who flout the ban will be blacklisted and their licences revoked.

“The ministry has observed, with dismay, that operators of bench-mills in the state have formed the habit of felling under-aged and under-girth trees and using them in the production of pallets. This irresponsible behaviour is decimating our already depleted forest resources.

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“In order to stem this ugly trend, it is, hereby, announced for the information of the public, particularly operators of bench-mills, that a ban has been placed on the production of pallets outside the sawmills within the state, with immediate effect. It is needless for me to emphasise that felling of under-aged and under-girth trees for any purpose remains an offence.

“In view of the above, any bench-mill operator found producing pallets in the state would have his or her licence revoked and black-listed,” she said.