The Nasarawa State Government has banned the use and sales of charcoal in the state.
The aim of the ban, according to government sources, was to protect the environment.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. Aliyu Agwai, announced this while addressing newsmen, on Saturday, in Lafia, the state capital.
Agwai said that the process of producing charcoal was harmful to the environment by destroying the climate and increasing global warming.
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He noted that the burning of charcoal, especially, would produce harmful emissions.
“Cutting trees can result in the loss of habitat for animal species, which can harm the ecosystems.
“Usually every last Saturday of the month is set aside for sanitation exercise, but we brought it back to today because of the Christmas celebration,” he added.
Agwai said that all roads to the state were blocked to prevent motorists from other states from passing but they had been opened after the sanitary exercise.
“We only allowed those with permission from the relevant ministry, or on essential services to pass and move around during the exercise,” he said.
