Parliament Bans Forestry Activities in Osun

The State of Osun House of Assembly has banned the activities of Timber contractors and Fletchers until the new guideline and regulations of forestry operation is provided in the state.

The Speaker, Honourable Najeem Salaam made this known on Tuesday at the stakeholders meeting held by the committee of the whole House in the State House of Assembly complex, Osogbo.

The stakeholders’ meeting comprises of sawmillers, fletchers, timber contractors, forest guides and officials of the forestry in the state.

Salaam observed that the meeting was called to shed more light on the allegations raised against the officers, which according to him, had been affecting the state economy.

He said a lot of fraud cases were reported during the committee meeting held with the Chairman House Committee on Environment and Sanitation.

According to him, “this meeting is necessary to clear some difficult issues in Osun forestry activities and we all need to redeem the forest from collapse for our next generation”.

The speaker who hinted that the state Assembly would make new rules and guidelines for forest activities in the state to save it from collapse said, “There is a need to get to the bottom of the fraud in our various forests in the state”.

He then urged the forest guides to be committed and sit tight in their duties to save Osun Forest against illegal lumbering.

He said, “Osun Assembly will review all forestry activity laws for the betterment of the state and its entire people”.

In their separate remarks, members of the Assembly urged the forest guides to desist from taking bribes from fletchers and timber contractors in order to avoid embarrassment.

They advised the forest guides to change their attitude towards the forest henceforth and appealed to timber contractors and fletcher to peacefully co-exist with the interest of moving the state forward.

In his response, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment and Sanitation, Mr. Tunde Ajilore urged the state House of Assembly to amend Osun forestry laws to save the forests in the state.

Israel Afolabi