OGUN FAN CONGRATULATES NEW HON. COMMISSIONER FOR FORESTRY, ENGR. TAIWO OLUDOTUN, CHARGES HIM ON PROTECTION OF FORESTS

The Forestry Association of Nigeria (FAN), Ogun State Chapter has formally congratulated the newly appointed Commissioner for Forestry in Ogun State, Engr. Taiwo Oludotun on his appointment.

Forestry Association of Nigeria (FAN) is the umbrella body for all stakeholders in forest and forest products and natural resources management including but not limited to those in the Universities, Ministries, the Practitioners and other stakeholders.

The congratulatory message was contained in a letter jointly signed by Dr. Kayode Ogunjobi and Otunba Jide Fakayode, the Chairman and Secretary of the association respectively.

The letter reads “This is to formally extend our hearty congratulations to you on your well deserved appointment as the 8th substantive Commissioner for Forestry in Ogun State.”

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ValidViewNetwork reports that FAN in the letter eulogised the newly appointed Commissioner for his past achievements while charging him to replicate same in the forestry sector.

“We are delighted to learn of your previous accomplishments both in the private sector and as past Hon. Commissioner in Ogun State. We sincerely hope and pray that your tenure as the Commissioner for Forestry will record more outstanding successes that shall surpass your past achievements.”

ValidViewNetwork reports that FAN through the letter assured the Commissioner of its readiness to partner and collaborate with the Ministry under his leadership towards ensuring that the remnants of the forests in Ogun state are protected .

According to the letter, “FAN is willing and ready to collaborate with you in ensuring that the remnants of our forests are protected in line with best practices. Our  expectations of your tenure are high and we are hopeful that we will not be disappointed. Our goal is simple and unambiguous as we are committed to the protection of our forests from further rape. From the protection of Arakanga forest reserve in  Ogun Central from bastardization, eradication of flitching, illegal farming and cocoa tree proliferation which is now endemic to Omo Forest Reserve in Ogun East and prevention of quarrying activities (sand evacuation) in the forest reserves in the West are our concerns.”

ValidViewNetwork recalls that the issue of activities around Arakanga forest reserve attracted the interest of many stakeholders both within and outside Ogun State recently with the assurance from the Ministry that there was no attempt to carry out harvesting at the forest as being speculated.

ValidViewNetwork opines that no effort should be too much towards putting an end to illegal farming within the forest reserves; production of flitches; conversion of forest reserve to cocoa plantation and quarrying activities within the forest reserves.

FAN equally congratulated the newly appointed Commissioner being the only Commissioner to have been privileged to host all foresters in the country since more than two decades.

“We would like to also congratulate you that you have come in as the Commissioner to host all Foresters in Nigeria at the 44th Annual Conference starting from November 21st to 26th, 2022. Ogun State has not been privileged to host the Annual Conference for decades and we hope that you will give the Conference the attention it deserves and make out time to receive Commissioners of Forestry from other States that will be attending.”