The Ekiti State Government, in its bid to curb illegal activities in
its forests across the State has impounded 497 illegal planks and 16
logs of Teak billets allegedly evacuated illegitimately from its
The Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Hon. Gbenga
Agbeyo effected the confiscation at Araromi Ogbechi in Ekiti East
Local Government area while on tour of Forest Offices in Ikole,
Gbonyin and Ekiti East.
Speaking with journalists, the Commissioner, who frowned at the
illegal act said the tour became necessary having noticed the
abysmally low revenue turn-out of the Forestry sub-sector.
According to him, the perpetrators, who took to their heels
immediately they saw the Commissioner’s vehicles would be fished out
and sanctioned accordingly stressing that the planks will be sold on
the order of a Court of competent jurisdiction.
Hon. Agbeyo said the present administration under the leadership of
Dr. Kayode Fayemi is poised to improve the Internally Generated
Revenue of the State to assist the State embark on meaningful projects
that would further impact positively on the lives of the people.
He said government would ensure the blockade of all loopholes in
order to curb all leakages of internally generated revenue cautioning
people with intention to engage in such nefarious acts to desist as
government would deal decisively with anyone caught engaging in such
reprehensible act.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr. Olufemi Osasona, who
accompanied the Commissioner on the tour, expressed his
dissatisfaction on the illegal activity with a stern warning to all
Forestry Officers and the people in the Community where such illegal
activity was discovered to stop colluding with these perpetrators.
While ordering full security of the confiscated woods, Osasona urged
the Forestry Officers to expose the bad eggs in their midst.ll
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