Subsequent to several cautionary advice and warnings given by the Ogun State Government against flouting regulations and degrading the State's Forest Reserves, all illegal settlements within the Strict Nature Reserve (SNR), in Area J1 of Omo Reserve and other forest enclaves have been ordered to vacate the areas immediately, in order to avoid prosecution.
The Commissioner for Forestry, Engr Tunji Akinosi gave the warning at a meeting with Baales in the Area J1, in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
Hon. Tunji Akinosi said that the SNR Area was designed for Elephant Conservation, Biosphere and Queen's Forest, which should not be allowed to lose its value by the frequent and uncontrolled (illegal) farming and other human activities ongoing there, thereby destroying wildlife and ecosystem in the forest.
Hon. Akinosi, who read the list of illegal settlements within J1 and other reserves, including Imaba, Eseoke, Tami Tami, Bridge, Korede, Fatai, Sojukorodo, Gerrard, Erifun, and Oniguguru, said they must leave immediately, adding that Aba Alhaja, Erimogan, Ologuna and Ori Apata are to also vacate the illegally occupied areas.
"All illegal settlements within the SNR and other parts of the State's Reserve must leave. Government will not close its eyes to the illegal occupants and allow things to degenerate. We cannot afford the forest going into extinction," Akinosi said.
Earlier in a session with members of the Ogun State Timber Contractors, the Ogun State Saw Millers as well as the Ogun State Plank Sellers Associations, the Commissioner had declared that there would be re-verification and renewal exercises of all Property Hammers from 20th March, 2020, in order to prevent transfer of working hammers from a person to another and curb illegal flitching in the Reserve.
He said property hammer owners who fail to comply would not be allowed to work in the reserve and hammers belonging to deceased contractors would be retrieved, while those caught engaging in flitches, called “Alamole,” would have their sawmills closed down, to enable the Government to identify genuine contractors.
In his response, the Vice President, Ogun State Saw Millers Association, Mr. Taiwo Solanke said that all members of the association were in support of the Government's approach as a way of tackling the menace of illegal flitches which have affected their businesses negatively.
On her part, the Iyalaje of the Ogun State Plank Sellers Association, Mrs. Kikelomo Olufunmi, commended the State Government for its bold efforts towards combating illegal forest activities which she said, have become a tug of war between real contractors and encroachers.
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