Timber Contractors in Ogun State have been advised to register their businesses with the State government either as a group or individual, in order to avoid seizure of their logs and vehicles.

 Commissioner for Forestry, Engr. Tunji Akinosi gave the advice in Abeokuta, while addressing Ijebu-Igbo Youth Forum of Timber Contractors in his office, saying the Ministry would not tolerate any unwholesome acts in its forest reserves.   

Akinosi frowned at activities of farmers who were in the habit of planting crops such as cocoa, plantain, among others in the reserves, saying the practice would have negative effect on the reserves.

"We will not allow any individual that is not a contractor into our reserves. They are meant to be preserved and protected against illegal activities, particularly from groups or persons who are not registered with the government", he said.

 The Commissioner assured that the government would address challenges confronting the contractors, admonishing them to always replant trees cut in the reserves, in order to improve economic sustainability.

Earlier in his presentation, Speaker of the Forum, Mr. Senkale Bankole pledged their unalloyed cooperation to the government to enable it achieve its mission in the forestry sector.