The fight against illegal depletion of government forest reserves can be effective when stakeholders in the Timberland and Sawmilling industries volunteer to provide useful information on activities in the reserves.

Commissioner for Forestry, Engr. Taiwo Oludotun made this known in Abeokuta, at a meeting with staffers of the Ministry and members of Ijebu-Ode Timber contractors, saying it was imperative to find a lasting solution to the illegal activities being perpetrated in government reserves.

 He stated that an official tour of the reserves would soon commence to ascertain the state of things and come up with ideas towards enhancing the government's revenue generation drive.

According to the Commissioner, " I want to emphasise that government is committed to the total riddance of illegal felling of trees, ejecting all the illegal occupants in the forest reserves, just as we have put in place effective management that will provide necessary punitive measures within the confines of the law for those apprehended".

 Engr. Oludotun urged the stakeholders and members of the public to join hands with the government to ensure that all economic saboteurs were brought to justice, noting that the present administration would continue to preserve the reserves to function effectively.

Contributing, the  Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr. Lateef Benson called for the unwavering support of members of the Association, to assist the Ministry, in line with the ‘’Building Our Future Together’’ agenda of the present administration.

In his remark, the Chairman, Timbers Association, Ogun State branch, Chief Aliu Ibrahim assured the new Commissioner of members’ cooperation, to enable the government and officials of the Ministry to deliver effective service.