Categories: Latest News

Consultant denies fraud in Ondo forest reserves rent collection

A private organisation, God Lovely Nigeria Enterprise, has clarified that the company was contracted by the Ondo state government to manage and oversee the activities within the government reserves area in the state.

The Chairman of the company, Mr Femi Ajayi Alabora, who disclosed this in a statement, said the clarification became necessary following a call by a group over alleged irregularities and fraud in the forest reserves rent collection

Alabora, who explained that the state government contracted the organisation to manage government reserves, dismissed the alleged irregularities as baseless and unfounded, saying the sponsored and fabricated narrative was designed to sow seeds of discord and confusion in the state.

According to him, the organisation is the only authorised contractor empowered by the state government to collect rent and register all occupants working in the Reserves.

He explained that all the demands being made by the company for the Reserves occupants are not without government knowledge, saying the distribution of forms to the farmers is still within its jurisdiction.

He said, “We have government approval to register farmers and collect land rent from them, and whatever steps being taken by our staff are legal, authorised, and have the backing of the government.

“We are not alone, as the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and other relevant government agencies are aware of our activities in the Reserves”.

Alabora explained further that the farmers and occupants of the Reserves were called to a meeting at Adegbemile Hall in Akure, the state capital, a few weeks ago to inform them about the development.

He said the meeting was called at the instance of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Government Agencies, who notified the farmers of the requirements in regard to registration and rent collection.

He, however, cautioned the sponsor of the false alarm to desist from instigating the farmers against the state government directives and toe the line of integrity, as nothing positive will come out of it.

He said those planning to disrupt the exercise or activities of his staff and farmers will be handed over to security operatives in the state to face the full wrath of the law.

He said, ”We are not perturbed by the sponsors of different groups’ activities. Before now, this same set of sponsors levelled an allegation of extortion against us when we had not started operations at all and their propaganda had failed.

“In the meeting we had with the farmers, which recorded a massive turnout, the farmers were briefed and they promised to cooperate with our company, and now they have come up with another narrative that we are collecting unauthorised fees; again, they have failed.”

Alabora urged those behind the attacks to approach the relevant authority to table their grievances, rather than creating unnecessary tension and instigating the farmers and public against the company.

He appealed to the farmers to cooperate with his staff whenever they come around for registration, saying there’s nothing for the state government to investigate since the organisation was contracted and authorised to function on its behalf as the Land Rent Collector.

ALSO READ THESE TOP STORIES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE