Ondo timber dealers lament govt ban on lumbering

Members of the Ondo State Timber Traders Organisation have cried out as their businesses face hard times as a result of the state government’s ban on all lumbering activities in the state.

Rotimi Akeredolu, Ondo State Governor

Governor Rotimi Akeredolu ordered the ban as soon as he assumed office after observing irregularities and illegal felling of trees in the state’s forest reserves.

However, the operators complain that the ban, which has lasted for two weeks, is adding to their already bad financial situation.

They appealed to the state government to lift the ban on the closure of the state’s forest in order not to worsen their economic woes.

The timber traders who made this appeal after their meeting in Akure, the Ondo State capital, said the call became imperative to save their business and to save its members from hunger.

The traders said lifting the ban was necessary to save their business as well avert severe hunger now threatening members of the timber organisation.‎

Ade Olukayode, c‎hairman of the organisation, condemned the action of the government, arguing that 90 per cent of the revenue accruing internally to the government came from the lumbering business.

Noting that the timber traders’ organisation had contributed tremendously to the economic development of the state, Mr. Olukayode said the state government caught them unawares when it declared the forest reserves closed.

“Most of the timber traders obtained loans from banks to carry out their lawful businesses,” he said.

“The closure has affected their business negatively in the last two weeks.”

He wondered why the government decided to close both the free zone and the reserved area asserting that members of the association obtained permit from the government and are operating legally.