Chinese Firm, CSO Bicker Over Chinese Businessmen In Cross River

Raymond Okongor, the chief security officer to a Chinese firm that deals with splitted white wood in Efii, Okuni community, Ikom Iocal government area of Cross River State, has debunked claims by the executive director of Rainforest Resource and Development Centre (RRDC), Prince Odey Oyama, that Chinese businessmen in Effi have no immigrant permits.

Okongor dismissed Oyama’s claim while answering questions from LEADERSHIP correspondent in a telephone interview on Tuesday.

Reacting to a statement in the media credited to executive director of RRDC, Okongor claimed that the Chinese nationals in Okuni have never entered Effi forest since they began doing business in the area.

He said that only what the investors do was to buy white wood from the locals in the community, to produce particle boards in a factory that engage so many community youths in the area.

Recall that Oyama had last week in one of the dailies said Chinese businessmen involved in the procurement of particle board in Effi of Okuni community have no permits or concession agreements from the State’s Forestry Commission, which authorise them to do business in the area.

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But, debunking Oyama’s claim, Okongor said there was no Chinese man that is in Effi community forest in Ikom local government area, stressing that all what the Chinese entrepreneurs were doing was to buy white wood which they use to produce particle boards without entering Effi community forest as alleged by the NGO boss.

“This wood substantially does not come from Okuni forest, but from Boki and Obubra.

“The Chinese men only station at the gate of their yard, and locals supply them with the white wood from umbrella trees and gmalinas trees,” he stated.