The Kano State Government has imposed a statewide ban on the illegal use of chainsaws for cutting, peeling, or trimming trees in a bid to combat deforestation and protect the environment.
Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, Dr. Dahiru Mohammad Hashim, announced the measure during a press briefing in Kano on Monday.
He said the initiative aims to safeguard community livelihoods and promote sustainable forest management.
According to him, the ban is backed by key legal frameworks, including Section 20 of the 1999 Constitution, the NESREA Act of 2007, and the National Environmental Regulations of 2014.
It also aligns with Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC 3.0), which targets a 60% reduction in deforestation.
To regulate tree cutting, the state has introduced a Chainsaw Usage Permit Framework (CU-PF).
Under the scheme, all commercial chainsaw operators and logging businesses must register with the ministry and renew licenses annually.
Each operator will receive an identification code, while chainsaws will be tagged with ministry-issued numbers.
Permits will now be required for any tree-related activity—whether in government reserves, schools, places of worship, emirate lands, or private residences.
Forestry officers will inspect and approve sites before permits are granted, and felled trees must be replaced with two to three saplings.
A digital registry with QR-coded permits has also been created for real-time verification.
Enforcement will involve security agencies, local councils, traditional rulers, and community forest monitors.
Violators will face strict penalties, including fines of up to ₦500,000, confiscation of equipment, and possible imprisonment.
Unauthorized tree felling will attract a ₦250,000 fine per tree, mandatory replanting, and confiscation of tools.
Dr. Hashim appealed to schools, local government chairmen, religious leaders, and traditional rulers to actively support the policy by protecting reserves, discouraging indiscriminate cutting, and sensitizing communities.
“This is a decisive step in our fight against illegal deforestation,” he said.
“With the Chainsaw Usage Permit Framework, Kano is setting a benchmark in environmental governance.
“We call on all stakeholders to comply for the sake of present and future generations.”
