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, Timothy Olatunji stated this in a parley with the Forestry Association of Nigeria (FAN), held at the Conference Hall of the Ministry, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, the state capital.
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He 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.
“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 declared 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