By Faridat Salifu
Members of the Ijebu Sawmillers and Timbers Contractors Association have called on Governor Dapo Abiodun to take urgent action against over 100,000 illegal cocoa farmers reportedly destroying the J4 Omo Forest Reserve in Ijebu East Local Government Area.
The sawmillers staged a protest at the Governor’s Office on Wednesday, urging the government to protect the forest reserve, which provides their main source of livelihood, from further encroachment.
According to a video obtained from the association’s Secretary, Pastor Funmileye Akinnukawe, protesters carried placards with messages such as “The Ministry of Forestry has failed us,” “We say no to cocoa farmers inside government reserve forest,” and “Stop selling reserve forest to farmers.”
Akinnukawe lamented that illegal cocoa farmers have taken over 95 percent of the forest reserve, destroying woods that generate at least N800 million annually in revenue for the state government.
He added that the association has repeatedly written letters and engaged the government, but the Commissioner for Forestry has not been sufficiently empowered to address the challenge.
Akinnukawe pleaded that the government give the Commissioner the authority needed to halt the activities of the cocoa farmers immediately.
The President of the Ogun State Sawmillers Association, Mr. Opeoluwa Idowu, also expressed frustration, saying many members have gone out of business due to the depletion of raw materials caused by illegal cocoa cultivation.
Idowu noted that of over 5,000 sawmill machines in the state, fewer than 500 are operational because the forest no longer provides adequate timber.
He emphasized that sawmilling is a heritage and a major source of income in Ijebu land, but the activities of cocoa farmers are destroying the industry despite repeated appeals to the government.
Speaking with reporters, the Commissioner for Forestry, Oludotun, said he and the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tokunbo Talabi, have met with timber contractors to address the issue.
He announced that the government will soon issue a directive requiring illegal occupants to vacate the forest reserve within two weeks.
Oludotun said a joint task force with timber contractors will remove illegal cocoa farmers, destroy their plantations, and demolish marked houses in the reserve.
He added that trees will be replanted to restore areas cleared by illegal cocoa farming, with operations expected to start by mid-September to allow time for proper evacuation.
The Commissioner warned that anyone refusing to comply with government directives will face prosecution, and assured that timber contractors will lead the operation with full government backing.
