By Adekola Afolabi
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The Ondo State House of Assembly Committee on Natural Resources has called on the state government to review its Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the West Africa Forest Plantation Ltd to ensure better management and performance of the state afforestation project.

The Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Akinyele Fasogbon made the call while leading other members of the committee on oversight function to the company at Omifon, in Odigbo Local Government area of the state.

He frowned at what he called “window dressing” being carried out by the management of the company.

Fasogbon who pointed out that the company has not done anything in the afforestation since October last year when the state governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu handed over the project to the company, equally alleged that the company is only siphoning the state’s money and economic trees at the detriment of the state.

This just came as the committee commended the management of the WeWood Nigeria Ltd, a plywood manufacturing company at Omotosho also in Odigbo council area, for its excellent performance in all ramifications.

The Chairman argued that the discouraging situation negated the good intention of the state government which was to create job opportunities and improve the economy of the state.

“They claimed to have graded about 25 hectares of land, it is a lie. All what they are doing in the forest is nothing but window dressing. They don’t plant economic trees, no job for our people and no access road. They promised all these before taking over the project, but we are disappointed with what we saw at the site. No improvement at all.

“So, we are calling on the state governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, to please review the MoU signed with the West Africa Forest Plantations and revoke its licence and give it to a serious company like WeWood Nigeria Ltd. It is only WeWood that is doing excellently well. WeWood has cleared and planted many hectares of land and we saw all these during our oversight to the company”, Fasogbon emphasised.

Other committee members, Mr. Musa Mukaila, Mr. Siji Akindiose and Felemu GuduBankole also supported the position of the committee chairman and advised the state government to completely revoke the licence of the company in the interest of the state and the people.

They argued that it is unheard of for the company to be doing all its clearing and planting activities manually, noting that the company is performing below expectation.

The lawmakers posited that all what the company is doing is not helping the state and its people. They called for termination of its contract to enable the government achieve the desired results.

But the committee lauded the WeWood Nigeria Ltd which has about 400 workforce with sizeable number of staff from the state, noting that the company is adding values to the state and contributing greatly to the socioeconomic development of Ondo State.