Ogun Parleys Group, Orders Illegal Farmers To Vacate Omo Forest Reserve

ABEOKUTA, OGUN STATE, NIGERIA – The Ogun State government has warned farmers and others residing in its forest reserves, especially Omo Forest Reserve in the state to desist from planting cocoa seedlings, saying it is illegal and unlawful.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Forestry, Mr. Timothy Olatunji stated this in a parley with the Forestry Association of Nigeria (FAN), held at Conference Hall of the Ministry, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, the state capital, recently.

Olatunji added that the government has instructed them that all illegal structures within the “Omo Forest Reserves” should be removed by the occupants immediately; saying failure to abide by the directive would attract demolition of their structures by the government.

“In fact, forest reserves in the State, like others in Nigeria were primarily created to serve as sanctuaries for endangered species of planting trees, and to preserve forests for the benefit of mankind.

“And forest reserves are government owned, and the government of the State declares categorically, that, farming and hunting in its forest reserves are illegal acts. It is called encroachment and poaching respectively, and it will not be tolerated”, Olatunji said.

He also warned village heads in the government-owned forest reserves not to indulge in unwholesome practices that may disrupt activities in the forests, especially selling of the reserve lands in any forms.

Olatunji said that such village heads risked eviction and would be made to face the full wrath of the law if found culpable.

In his submission, the Ogun state Chairman, Forestry Association of Nigeria (FAN), Otunba Jide Fakayode implored the government to save them from the unwholesome activities of banditry, and farmers, illegally felling of trees and destruction of trees for plantation of crops, noting that the unwholesome acts would no longer be allowed and tolerated.

Fakayode said, “Some of the unwholesome activities to include illegal felling of trees, destruction of trees for plantation of crops like cocoa, colanut and illegal collection of flitches, and carrying of guns and charms to maim, kill and moleste the foresters working in the reserves.”

He charged the government, forest guards and other officials to be alive to their responsibilities by ensuring they kept a close watch on trees and other forest resources, so as not to loose million of naira to those illegal occupants of the forest reserves in the state.

Also speaking, Chairman, Ijebu-Ode Timber Association, Mr. Femi Shittu said that the farmers has turned the forest into cocoa plantation areas, noting that they now fell their trees at will, without being checkmate by any authority.

He called on the state government to establish laws to guide the activities of both farmers and foresters in the state, saying that the law would be abode by those wanted to operate on the forest reserves in the state.

“In fact, we admit that our forest reserves harbour squatters. Even though we have legal rights to evict those who encroach on government land without let or hindrance, but we have not done that.

“Because we are expecting government to do so, as it is the primary assignment of the government to evict the illegal occupants of the reserves and of these squatters have long inhabit these forests and have developed a false sense of ownership,” Shittu said