Follow rules guiding forest reserves, encroachers warned

By Kehinde Oluwatayo
|
Encroachers into the Ondo State forest reserves may not find it easy to operate there again as the state government is ready to deal with them according to the rules establishing the reserves in the state.

   Speaking in an with The Hope in his office, state Commissioner for Natural Resources, Mr Rasheed Badmus said the initial plan of government was to register all the farmers in the forest reserves to know how many hectares they are occupying.

   According to him, the farmers are now using the opportunity to encroach more into the forest reserves adding that government is now planning to deal with them according to rules that establish the place.

   Badmus who said arrests were made with some prosecuted before the registration noted that the ministry did not make any arrest when government decided to register them.

   According to him, the ministry is collating its report to be submitted to the state Governor, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu in a meeting that will be held very soon on the effect of the activities of the encroachers in the state.

   He said government is the owner of the forest reserves contrary to the opinion of some community people who extort money from encroachers and are giving them the place to farm.

 “We want to recommend to government that the ministry of natural resources that is in charge of the place should be allowed to take over the job and implement  the outcome of the meeting with the governor and concerned authorities.

  “This week we are going to take serious action against them and we are going to stop them,” he said.

When asked if the original plan of government to retain the cash crops planted there still stand, Badmus said that the crops would be retained and managed properly but there would be no room for extension.

   To regenerate the place and ensure it does not extinct, Badmus said #10million was proposed in 2019 budget to regenerate part of the reserves adding that everything can not be done in one year.

He charged the people of the state to obey the rules and regulations that set up the establishment of the forest reserves adding that encroaching into the place has negative impact on the state economy, environment and the lives of the people.

   He also called on them to support the government in planting trees in the state.