Timber company to pay nearly 10,000 euros in compensation

“Key outcomes of the settlement and most significant is the formal recognition of New Ekuri Community as the lawful custodian of our forest. The agreement affirms that no company may lawfully operate within our forest without the express consent of the community,” says Martins Egot, founder of our partner organization PADIC Africa.

This represents not only a victory for New Ekuri, but also an important precedent for host communities across Nigeria defending their environmental heritage.

The Indigenous Ekuri have protected their community forest of more than 33,000 hectares for many years – a globally respected example of effective forest protection that received the United Nations Equator Prize. 

On February 16, 2026, Ezemac International (Nig.) Ltd. signed an agreement with the residents of New Ekuri. Rainforest Rescue provided financial support to Martins Egot after his arrest and has for some time also supported the Eco-Guards of his organization, PADIC Africa. The agreement was reached through mediation by lawmakers in Cross River State.

Under its terms, Ezemac International has committed to paying the Indigenous people of New Ekuri compensation equivalent to 9,250 euros. This covers the value of the illegally logged timber as well as the cost of repairing the environmental damage. Ezemac must therefore finance the restoration of corridors cut into the rainforest and the reforestation of the area. This includes raising 10,000 seedlings in a tree nursery.

“A mandatory ecological restoration of all access roads opened by bulldozers to prevent erosion and unauthorized access,” explains Martins Egot. The Eco-Guards will establish the tree nursery and replant the damaged areas, while PADIC Africa will provide technical oversight and coordination. 

Only once the money has been transferred may the company remove timber that has already been felled. “No payment, no evacuation,” says Martins Egot.

We Ekuri remain firmly committed to protecting our rainforest – our heritage, our climate shield, and the legacy we leave for future generations. This is not merely a local achievement. It is a significant step forward for environmental justice in Nigeria.

The agreement shows that “communities can defend their forests through lawful and peaceful means,” was Martins Egot’s positive assessment, although he had been temporarily arrested because of his resistance to logging. “We chose lawful engagement over confrontation, dialogue over destruction, and institutional processes over chaos. Today, peace has prevailed.”

We remain vigilant

At the same time, Martins Egot and other environmental defenders warn against complacency. “We will continue to monitor developments closely,” says Odey Oyama, director of the organization Rainforest Resource and Development Center (RRDC). He is particularly concerned with enforcing the timber export ban imposed by Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu in October 2025. 

For us, the key issue is ensuring that the rule of law prevails, that community forest rights are respected, and that Nigeria’s environmental regulations and national commitments to forest protection are upheld,” says Odey Oyama.

Our petition “Tell Nigeria’s leaders: enforce the timber export ban now!” is therefore highly relevant and urgent. Please sign it if you have not already done so.

Rainforest Rescue has worked with Martins Egot, Odey Oyama and other conservationists in Nigeria for the past ten years. Together, we helped stop a planned “superhighway.”