By Kelvin Obambon
Environmental rights and civil society organization, We the People (Centre for Social Studies and Development), has paid an advocacy and familiarization visit to the newly appointed Cross River State Commissioner for Environment, Barr. Bassey Offiong Mensah, at his office in Calabar on Tuesday, September 15, 2026.
The delegation, led by Ukeme Ekong, Head of We the People’s Calabar Office, called for stronger government collaboration, institutional reforms, and an urgent overhaul of the state’s existing forestry laws to combat environmental degradation and severe deforestation across the state.
Speaking during the visit, Ekong stressed the organization’s commitment to protecting ecosystems and amplifying community voices across the Niger Delta. She highlighted pressing regional challenges, including waste management, pollution control, sustainable urban development, and climate adaptation.
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“Our work is driven by the belief that environmental justice is inseparable from social justice – that every person deserves clean air, safe water, and a healthy environment,” Ekong stated. “We come with open hands and open hearts, ready to collaborate. We believe that under your leadership, the ministry can advance innovative policies and community-driven initiatives that will transform environmental governance in our state.”
Adding to the call for action, Nsikak Udofot, Project Officer at We the People, expressed concern over the rapid loss of the state’s forest cover, informing the Commissioner of Cross River’s historic status as a global ecological treasure.
“For the longest time possible, Cross River State was recognized as one of the 25 biodiversity hotspots in the world,” Udofot noted. “But we’ve lost so much of our forests, and it’s something we’ve been trying to resolve. We are really hoping that we can work together to help reverse the trend.”
Augustine Uka Esq., another Project Officer with the group, raised concerns regarding outdated forest practices that incentivize deforestation. Uka disclosed that We the People, alongside legal experts, environmental lawyers, and academic associations, has drafted a review to amend the Cross River State Forest Law.
“If the laws are allowed to stay the way they are, then we could find ourselves having no safe place to live,” Uka warned. “One of the reasons we have come to visit today is to see how we can collaboratively work with your office to push for a review or amendment of our law on forest related issues.”
Responding, the Commissioner, Barr. Bassey Offiong Mensah welcomed the delegation, acknowledging the widespread issue of unauthorized logging and environmental lawlessness across the state’s forest reserves.
“In our forests, people go in and cut down trees; people do things capriciously,” Commissioner remarked. “My ministry is ready and willing to work with those who are ready to work with us. Our flanks are open. Whatever would add value to the ministry, and of course the state in general, we are ready and willing.”
On the proposed legislative reforms, Mensah promised to review the group’s legal draft and consider leveraging executive channels to push the bill through the legislature.
“I can use my office to drive that process,” Mensah assured the delegation. “Once I’m convinced, I’ll take it a step further. Maybe we’ll meet with the speaker and start from there… at the end of it, we can strategize.”
The visit climaxed with the presentation of We The People’s research document and a draft review of the Cross River State Forest Law to the Commissioner for appraisal.
