Ogun govt warns residents against erecting structures in forests reserves

The Ogun State Government has cautioned farmers and other people residing in its forest reserves across the state to desist from erecting any permanent structure in them, in compliance with the state’s forestry law.

The State Commissioner for Forestry, Chief Kolawole Lawal gave the warning while addressing Baales (local chiefs) and representatives of farmers, residing within the forest reserves, in Abeokuta.

Lawal said the government was not mindful of the fact that it had legitimately allocated parcels of land to farmers for agro-forestry purposes in the reserves but was averse to the erection of a permanent structure by any one that could be inimical to forestry activities.

The commissioner noted that some farmers were fond of destroying economic trees, to tend cash crops, that the farmers had planted illegally, adding that it would not tolerate any form of encroachment in any of its reserves as any enclave, not authorised by the government, would be demolished.

According to him, ‘’Ogun State government will not tolerate erection of permanent structures in the state forest reserves as it is against the law of forestry in the state, any permanent structure found in the reserves will be destroyed.”

Chief Lawal enjoined Baales in the reserves to bring their instruments of appointments to the m

inistry for confirmation of any illegal allocation of lands by un-constituted authority.