The Ogun State Government has ordered 17 illegal farmers and timber contractors in the Omo Forest Reserve, in Ijebu-East/North LGA of the state to vacate the region on or before January 15, 2024.
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.
Engr. Taiwo Oludotun, Commissioner for Forestry, who issued the order during a meeting with farmers, village leaders and wood contractors in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, noted that the communities had encroached on the forest reserve’s buffer zones.
He stressed 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.
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“The state Ministry of Forestry will not fold its arm and allow illegalities to continue within its forest reserves. Any timber contractor found to be involved in cocoa plantation within the reserves, the government property hammer of such contractor will be withdrawn,’’ he warned.
In his remarks, Timothy Olatunji, the permanent secretary in the ministry, urged timber contractors to work with the ministry to stop the unhealthy practices taking place in the forest reserves.
In their response, the timber contractors’ representatives, Hon. Kunle Kalejaye and Alhaja Ranti Bambi, expressed shock at the miscreants’ disregard for government orders and pledged to support the ministry’s efforts to stop the illegal activities.
