Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, the governor of Ondo State, has said that nobody would be allowed to legally operate in the state forest reserves without approval.
Akeredolu, who spoke on Wednesday, January 20, 2021, through the Commissioner for Agriculture, Adefarati Gboyega, said over 50,000 farmers engaged in different forms of agricultural activities in the Forest Reserves have been registered.
He said the activities of the farmers are regulated to reduce criminality.
Akeredolu stated that over 70% of the government reserves have been encroached by farmers as of 2017.
He said farmers were made to register to farm at the reserves with stiff adherence to all regulations that protect animals and trees.
According to him: “Love it or leave it; farming is farming be it crop production or animal husbandry. If any Nigerian irrespective of his/her State of origin desires land for farming in Government Forest Reserves, he/she must apply to the Ondo State Ministry of Agriculture and pay the normal fee for the required hectares of land.
“It is illegal for herdsmen to encroach Ondo State Government Forest Reserves without permission and graze on the farms, many of which will be destroyed.
“Let me say it again and again that no activity (hunting, planting crops, and animal rearing) can be done in Ondo State Forest Conservation without permission. The laws guiding Ondo State Forest are clear and concise on it.”
Source: The Nation
