Lawmakers from Ogun House of Assembly have highlighted the need for improvement in managing the state’s forest reserves to boost its economy.
Members of the House Committee on Agriculture and Forestry, led by Mr Sylvester Abiodun, the committee chairman also called on the state government to urgently revive the ecotourism sector of the state by overhauling facilities in the conservation areas.
Abiodun made the call last week while on an assessment and budget monitoring tour to the State Forestry Plantation Project in Ijebu East Local Government Area of the state.
The lawmaker condemned the low level of security of the reserves, urging the management to take proactive measures at ensuring effective security to protect economic trees.
He also advised the management team to improve the revenue base of the reserve while ensuring holistic deployment of more forest guards.
The project Manager of the reserve, Mr Waheed Adebosin, said that the 676.2 square metres of agricultural facility required facility upgrade.
He said that the upgrade would maintain the fast-growing reserve for industrial usage and ecosystem preservation.
Adebosin added that N34 million was generated between January and June from road taxes, contractor registration fee and earnings from a plantation scheme, plants and equipment.
