(DDM) – The Executive Chairman of Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area, Hon. Barr. Chijioke Ezugwu, has ordered the suspension of all timbre operations across the LGA pending a comprehensive profiling exercise of dealers, operators, and labourers.
DDM gathered that the directive, announced on Saturday, August 16, 2025, is part of efforts to strengthen security and regulate the booming timbre business in the area.
The chairman explained that the move was necessary to sanitize the sector and to ensure proper accountability of individuals involved in forest-related activities.
He stressed that no operator, dealer, or labourer will be allowed to resume business until the profiling process is completed and officially endorsed by the local government.
According to Hon. Ezugwu, the profiling will cover every participant in the value chain, from dealers to labourers, with detailed documentation required for each individual.
He re-emphasized that all timbre dealers were earlier directed to form unions at the ward, zonal, and central levels to ensure coordination.
Each union must be duly registered with the local government to be recognized as legitimate.
The new directive mandates every ward, out of the 16 wards in Uzo-Uwani, to establish leadership structures comprising a chairman and a secretary.
These leaders will oversee the profiling of members at the grassroots level.
The profiling form requires specific details, including full name, phone number, residential address, state of origin, local government, and next of kin information.
Labourers and operators are also required to provide the name and signature of their sponsor.
Each submission must include a coloured passport photograph for proper identification.
The completed documents will be submitted to the respective Presidents-General of each ward.
From there, the records will be forwarded to the Office of the Executive Chairman or the Secretary to the Local Government.
The chairman issued a stern warning that any person or group found violating the order will face the full wrath of the law.
Relevant security and enforcement agencies have been placed on alert to ensure compliance.
Hon. Ezugwu noted that the profiling exercise is not only for regulation but also for safeguarding local communities against insecurity often linked to unregulated forest activities.
He stated that the forests will remain closed until the process is finalized and an official announcement of reopening is made.
The directive was announced by Chief Kingsley A. Onyeji, the Special Adviser to the Executive Chairman on Media and Publicity.
He emphasized that the order takes immediate effect across Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area.
The initiative, local observers noted, could become a model for forest regulation in other LGAs across Enugu State.
Residents and timbre stakeholders were urged to cooperate fully with the process to avoid sanctions.