As part of government efforts toward restricting hoodlums as well as protecting the forest reserves and improving the revenue drive of the state, Ondo state government has directed that no unauthorized persons would be allowed to extort money from farmers operating on forest reserves in the state.

Speaking on a live programme on Orange FM, Akure, State Commissioner for Natural Resources, Mr. Rasheed Badmus gave the hint. Badmus said reports reaching the ministry revealed that some unscrupulous persons have been parading themselves as either government agents or as owners of the land.

He charged those working on the reserves to be more diligent as he said that Ondo state government did not license any one to do so.

The commissioner reiterated government’s efforts at registering farmers operating on the reserves as means of identifying them for proper utilisation and preventing encroachment.

Badmus, therefore charged them to always report any cases of such from any quarter to the ministry and promised that perpetrator would be brought to book.

SOURCE: https://www.thehopenewspaper.com/odsg-warns-against-illegal-collection-of-funds-in-forest-reserves/