PLANKS SELLERS BEG GOVERNOR ABIODUN TO REOPEN FORESTRY
The Chairman, Plank Sellers Association of Ogun State, Chief Saka Nafiu said the closure order by the State Government had inflicted series of sufferings on members of the association, adding that as at the time of their appeal they had lost over N5 billion worth of planks and other properties to the closure of forests across the state.
Penpushing reports that, Nafiu accompanied by other officials and members of the association at the press conference called the attention of the State Government to what they described as ‘great loss to the State’.
The Chairman lamented that most of their members have incurred into series of debts since the closure of forestry, lamenting that most of their members have turned beggars on the street, as a result of the ugly development.
Penpushing further reports, that the association boss explained that, the association was not contesting the control and closure of Government reserved forests but should exempt the free areas under the control of the association, and also called on Government to grant them opportunity of dialogue.
The Vice Chairman of the Association, Monsuru Ayodeji in his own remarks expressed anger over the closure of forests across the State, lamenting that most of their children are now drop out from schools, because of the family predicament linked to the closure.
Penpushing also reports that, Ayodeji noted that, the government could generate more revenue from forestry, claiming that the money they pay to the Ministry of Forestry is higher than revenue of other Ministries.
The Vice Chairman, however, advised the State Government to appoint officers with experience on plank selling to take over the Ministry of Forestry in the State, rather than appointing novice to head the Ministry.
