Ekiti Raise 220,000 Seedlings to Reproduce Forest Reserves

Commissioner for Environment, Bisi Kolawole, said it had become very important for states to survey alternative sources of income in the face of the current global reduction of business activity and the diminishing revenue from oil.  Ekiti State government has raised about 228,000 seedlings as part of efforts to reproduce forest reserves and boost afforestation in the state.

According to Kolawole, he said, the Fayose administration intended to utilize the heavily endowed forests that abound in the state to improve its internally generated revenue (IGR).

He noted that government would no longer allow chaotic felling of trees which had stripped the state of its much needed revenue. The commissioner advised that any forestry officer or guard caught conniving with timber contractors to commit illegalities would be made to face the wrath of the law alongside their collaborators.

However, Head of Service, Dr Olugbenga Faseluka, condemned the unwholesome acts of some immoral timber contractors that attacked Forest officers and Forest guards in the course of performing their official duties. He urged the concerned government officials to always abide by the civil service rules while enforcing compliance with the state’s forestry law and assured them of their safety. He also added that, anybody that attacks any government official in the course of carrying out his lawful duties would henceforth be thoroughly dealt with in line with the law

According to the Ekiti State Government is set to distribute 263,442 cocoa seedlings to farmers as part of efforts at boosting cocoa production in the state. The state Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr.Babajide Arowosafe, who gave the information at a meeting with cocoa farmers in Ado-Ekiti, said that the state government was  fully committed to reviving  cocoa plantations  in the state  and transforming Ekiti into the leading  state in cocoa production  in Nigeria in line with the 8-point Agenda of the Fayemi administration.

-Bizwatch