5 days ago
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The Ogun State Government has vowed to intensify its crackdown on illegal forest dwellers and indiscriminate deforestation across its nine forest reserves as part of efforts to protect the environment and preserve biodiversity.
The Project Manager of the Ogun State Forest Plantation Project, Olukayode Shonibare, disclosed this during an interview at his office in J4, Ijebu East Local Government Area.
Shonibare emphasised that Govermor Dapo Abiodun-led administration remained committed to eradicating illegal activities that threaten the state’s forests, particularly the destruction of economic trees.
He warned illegal occupants to vacate the state’s forest reserves immediately, stressing that unchecked deforestation could worsen global warming and lead to severe environmental consequences.
He further called on the government to strengthen the capacity of forest guards to combat the growing invasion from neighboring states, including Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, and Ondo, which has overwhelmed the existing security framework.
“The invasion of Ogun forests is alarming. People from Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, and Ondo enter daily to destroy plantations and economic trees worth millions of naira, beyond the control of our forest guards. The state government must urgently recruit more personnel to prevent further losses,” Shonibare stated.
Highlighting the dangers of deforestation, he warned that failing to replace fallen trees could result in environmental disasters such as flooding, landslides, earthquakes, and severe storms, which could lead to loss of lives and properties.
“Deforestation directly affects human existence. If we are to sustain life, we must replace every fallen tree to prevent natural disasters. That is why afforestation remains a priority in all our forest reserves,” he added.
Shonibare commended the state Commissioner for Forestry, Taiwo Oludotun, for his efforts in tackling illegal activities within forest areas.
He also urged the media to intensify awareness campaigns on the importance of tree planting and environmental conservation.
To further strengthen afforestation efforts, Shonibare revealed that the agency is adopting the Taungya system, an agroforestry approach that allows farmers to cultivate annual crops alongside trees, ensuring both food security and environmental sustainability.
“We recognise that people need to eat, which is why we are integrating food production with afforestation through the Taungya system. Trees take years to mature, but with a growing population, we must balance environmental conservation with food security,” he explained.
