The Ogun State Government says it has arrested some timber merchants for allegedly felling the state economic trees illegally.

It added that logs of wood were also impounded at the Omo Forest Reserve, among other areas.

The Commissioner for Forestry, Chief Kolawole Lawal, who spoke on Thursday in Abeokuta, the state capital, said activities of the loggers had affected the Internally Generated Revenue of the state.

He appealed to them to desist from illegal activities or be ready to face the wrath of the law.


 
“In its unrelenting efforts at curbing illegal felling of trees in the state-owned forest reserves, the government has impounded three timber lorries and six trailers loaded with round logs and flitches, also known as Alamole.

“Our effort is to ensure that all illegal activities in our forest reserves are curbed. If we cannot stop them completely now, we must ensure that they are reduced to the barest minimum to increase our Internally Generated Revenue drive.

“Any illegal timber merchant arrested will have his vehicle impounded with the logs, pay fine and probably be arraigned in court in accordance with the forestry law,” he said.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Forestry, Lanre Bisiriyu, said illegal loggers, who transported round logs from the state to neighbouring states, had sabotaged the ministry’s plans to explore forestry to better the lots of residents.

He said, “If this illegality in the forest reserves area can be curbed totally, it will transform the state’s economy and create the much needed employment opportunities in rural communities.”

The Director of Forestry Regulation and Utilisation, Alamu Adeleke, urged merchants interested in earning a living from the state forest reserves to follow due process.