By Dada Jackson
Special Correspondent, Lagos
Ogun State government has charged all stakeholders in forest reserves to forestall economic sabotage in areas J1, J3, J4, and J6 and remit taxes and levies to public coffers.
Forestry Commissioner, Kolawole Lawal, made the plea at a meeting with cocoa farmers, timber merchants, and other interested parties.
He urged them to acquaint themselves with government policies and comply with the terms of engagement.
Lawal said the policies do not witch-hunt anyone but are to ensure things are done in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Ministry of Forestry.
As part of efforts to identify legal operators, he asked farmers to obtain, fill, and submit farmer’s agreement forms and collect identity cards at the ministry in order to ease identification in forest reserves.
Lawal warned farmers to stop planting cash crops in reserves, especially cocoa trees, as the government will punish those who break the new agreement.
He also warned plank sellers to stop buying illegal flitches “Alamole” from farmers, saying they are banned in the state plank plant.
Anyone found with “Alamole” will be prosecuted in court, he added, as the government will no more condone illegality in forest reserves.
The Chairman of Baales in Atun Adugbose village, Ogunde Idowu, said farmers protect economic trees and prevent operators from planting new cocoa trees in forest reserves.
Ijebu Plank Sellers Association Chairman, Musafau Osibanjo, pledged that plank sellers will support the government in waging war against the illegal sale of “Alamole”.
He urged his members to cooperate with the government and stop illegal businesses that could tarnish the image of the association.
