Forestry: Ogun Declares War Against Illegalities In Reserve
By Olu Osikoya, Abeokuta
Sequel to the recent reopening of the State’s Forest Reserve, Ogun State Government says it will not be business as usual for those engaging in illegal farming, settlement and other human activities which are detrimental to the proper forestry growth, management and development in the State.
Commissioner for Forestry, Hon. TunjiAkiosi, represented by the Director of Forestry, Regulations and Utilisation, Mr. Tayo Alamu, stated this when he led a task force on inspection, monitoring and enforcement exercise to cut down freshly planted cocoa and plantain trees in the Elephant Concession Area, Eseke, Baoku and Korede villages, all in J1 forest reserve.
He said stringent attention to laid down rules would be applied when offenders are caught deforesting the reserves, saying stricter measure had been put in place, according to the extant laws towards ending the heinous acts of forest degradation and degeneration in the State, just as stiffer penalty awaited culprits.
“Anyone found engaging in illegal felling of trees, logging, flitches and other unwholesome activities would be severely dealt with by the law. Economic trees and other protected biosphere areas within the reserve are not to be occupied by humans”, he stated.
The Commissioner reiterated that reserves were to be highly protected and guarded against encroachment, in order for the State to have a balanced ecosystem that would further boost economic development of the State.
The team also pulled down four new illegal structures in Sojukodoro area, in J1, while a motorcycle of a culprit who escaped arrest was confiscated by the task force.
The Commissioner attributed the success of the enforcement exercise to the strong political will of the Governor DapoAbiodun led administration, to have a decent State’s Forest Reserve, devoid of improper human activities.
