By Oluwatoyin Adegoke
Ogun State government has ordered illegal farmers and timber contractors to vacate the Omo Forest Reserve, in Ijebu-East/ North Local Government Area of the state, on or before January 15th, 2024.
The Ogun State Commissioner for Forestry, Mr Taiwo Oludotun, who gave the order during a meeting with farmers, village heads and timber contractors at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, said seventeen communities were identified to have encroached on the buffer zones of the forest reserve.
The communities are Eseke, Tamitami, Bridge, Korede, Fatai, Sojukorodo, Etemi-Gerade, Onigburugburu, Erifun, Aba Alhaja, Erimogan, Ologunna, Ori Apata, Imaba, Apora, Fatai 2 and Yomi Iga.
Mr Oludotun pointed out that planting cocoa seedlings within the state’s forest reserves was illegal, warning that any cocoa seedlings found within the forest reserve after the exit date would be duly sanctioned.
He stressed that the ministry would not fold its arm and allow illegalities to continue within the forest reserve, saying any timber contractor found to be involved in cocoa plantation within the reserves, would be sanctioned.
In his remarks, Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr. Timothy Olatunji, called on timber contractors to cooperate with the ministry to put an end to the unwholesome activities within the forest reserves.
Responding, the representatives of timber contractors, Mr Kunle Kalejaye and Alhaja Ranti Bambi, expressed displeasure at the violation of government’s directive by some illegal farmers, promising to complement the ministry’s efforts in curbing the illicit act.
Oluwatoyin Adegoke
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