Osun Govt Closes Two Forest Reserve Over Illegal Operation Of Planks Seller

Osun Govt Closes Two Forest Reserve Over Illegal  Operation Of Planks Sellers

Osun State Governments has on Friday locked up two forest reserved in Irewole and Isokan local government over illegal activities of Planks sellers Association in the area.

The Special Adviser to the governor on Natural Resources, Comrade Tunde  Ajilore announced the closure of the two forest in a press conference held  on Friday In Osogbo.

He said   the planks sellers association in the two areas mentioned refused to comply with the rules and regulations of the state in payment of revenue dues and some developmental levies stressing that the state  needs  money to pay workers salaries and that it cannot continues to Beg for money from Federal Govt.

According to the statement of  Comrade Ajilore,   the shut down of the activities in the two areas was as a result of the recent agitation of the plank sellers association in Irewole and Isokan branch which was allegedly organized to blackmail him(Ajilore)

” We at the Ministry  of Natural resources are very concerned  over the recent agitation of the plank sellers association in Irewole and Isokan branch. The agitation was organized to blackmail the Special Adviser to the governor, our party and some of our staff in the Ministry.

”The agitation is an attempt to force me and my staff to peel on the the series of illegalities,  contravention and corruption being perpetrated by the plank seller Association.

Stating further, Ajilore stressed that the Ministry cannot generate a million naira in a months as IGR before his regime adding that they have made so much money  for the government through the tax force.

He alleged that his department and the tax force has been subjected to series of attacks, blackmail, character assassination, and all forms of intimidation from the planks sellers so as to gives  them(planks sellers) the chances to continue in their illegal operations saying they did not over charge them.

”We are not charging any  money apart from the approved money recommended by the revenue mobilization committees. We have done our findings and discovered that there is nothing like extortion from any of our staff.

Comrade Ajilore therefore appealed to the association to two the most Honourable part pm peaceful engagement to resolve issues not displaying and form of gansterism or rascality as they have are open or negotiations and dialogue at any time.

• He also warns the concerned branches not to near forest from 6am to 6pm adding that they deal with any one who violates the order and that the shut down of the activities in the two areas Wil  enable the Ministry  of National resources  to allow for more robust negotiations and peaceful resolution on agitation of Planks seller Association  in the areas.