Ondo Timber Traders Urge Akeredolu to Reopen Forest Reserves

By Fidelis David

Timber traders in Ondo State have appealed to the state government to reopen the forest reserves, which had been closed by the government since last month, saying the closure had negatively affected their living.

The state government had ordered the closure of the forest reserves across the state in August following the activities of some unauthorised persons in the forest and directed the state security network agency also known as Amotekun Corps, to arrest anyone found in the forest after the order.

The timber traders under the auspices of the Association of Timber Traders Contractors of Nigeria (ATTCN), Ondo State Chapter, in a statement issued yesterday by the Chairman, Mr. Alaba Afere, urged Governor Rotimi Akeredolu to reverse the order in the interest of the people who were making their means of livelihood from the forest.

According to the statement, there was a need for reconsideration of the government action and reopening the forest reserves and the free area for the overall interest of the chain networking of timber trade operators across board.

The statement read: “The unduly suspension of all timber trade business and activities which serve as the main stream of income of their well-being and end to end overall sustenance as a source of living with at least 40 percent of the population of Ondo State are directly and indirectly connected to or involve in the activities of timber business, were not being given a prior notice nor consideration, are now at the mercy of the government to do their legitimate jobs to make ends meet.

Describing the order of the government as unpleasant, the timber traders said the order had directly or indirectly affected the source of income of about 40 percent of the population of the people of the state.

They noted that “losing timber industry in the state is as good as disengaging about 40 percent working class in the state,” which might result to increase in the rate of criminality in the state.

While appealing to the governor to take urgent action on all the challenges facing the timber business in the state, the ATTCN said there was a need to save the timber business in the state so as not to render those in the business jobless.