Do not plant cocoa in forest reserve, you will lose it – Gov’t

The Ogun State government has again warned farmers and others residing in its forest reserves across the state to desist from planting cocoa seedlings, saying it is against the state’s Forestry Law.

The government also instructed that all illegal structures within the forest reserves should be removed by the occupants, saying failure to abide by the directive would attract sanctions.

The Commissioner for Forestry, Engr. Taiwo Oludotun, handed down the warning while addressing village heads (baales), and farmers residing within the reserves in his office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

Oludotun said the government was taking steps to ensure that all cocoa plantations within the forest reserves are removed, emphasising that only tree plantations are allowed within the forest reserves.

Contributing, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Forestry, Mr Timothy Olatunji, said all the illegal occupants in the enclaves should vacate, while those who are authorised to stay should ensure revalidation of their ground rent.