By Faridat Salifu
The Ogun State Government says it will begin verifying the identities of community heads, or baales, operating in forest reserves across the state, as part of efforts to curb illegal activities and restore order in the protected areas.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Forestry, Adekunle Oyesanwen, disclosed this during a recent familiarisation visit to government forest reserves in J3, J4, and J6, located in Ogun East Local Government Area.
He addressed baales, contractors, and farmers, warning that those found collaborating with unauthorised operators risk removal from the enclaves and possible dethronement.
According to Oyesanwen, the Ministry of Forestry will work with the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to publish an official list of all baales with recognised authority in the forest reserves.
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The initiative, he said, is aimed at identifying legitimate leaders and exposing impostors who may be complicit in illegal logging, land encroachment, and other unauthorised activities.
“Very soon, both ministries will release a list of baales truly qualified to operate in the reserves,” he said. “This will help us identify impostors and ensure accountability in forest management.”
He also directed officers at forestry outstations to submit regular intelligence reports and to work closely with local communities to monitor compliance with forestry regulations.
In addition, he emphasised the importance of tree planting and maintenance to support environmental sustainability and reduce the impact of erosion, wind damage, and carbon emissions.
The permanent secretary and senior officials also inspected facilities including Smart Wood, Omo Wood Processing Factories, and the Forestry Plantations Project in the same region.
