Members of the Ogun State House of Assembly have commended the State Ministry of Forestry for embarking on aggressive afforestation resulting in the plantation of over a million economic trees and protection of forest reserves in the State.

The members led by the Chairman, House Committee on Forestry, Hon. Fatiu Salami, gave the commendation during the ongoing mid- year assessment of 2024 budget performance of Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government at the Assembly Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

The lawmakers also lauded the Ministry on the enforcement of boundary lines of the forest reserves in collaboration with the State Ministry of Urban and Physical Planning,as well as encouraging private companies in tree planting as parts of their Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR), as well as engaging the various stakeholders in ensuring the protection of the ecosystem.

While examining the budget performance of the Ministry, the lawmakers acknowledged the improved revenue drive of the Ministry having recorded over 59% of the annual revenue target.

In his remarks, the State Commissioner for Forestry, Engr. Taiwo Oludotun decried the high level of encroachment into forest reserves by illegal occupants, alleging that some illegal forest occupants had pulled down economic trees for illegal development of unapproved housing structures.

He noted that the ministry through collaboration with the Ministry of Urban and Physical Planning had curtailed the sharp practice leading to demolition of some of the illegal structures within the reserves, especially in the Ogun East Senatorial District.

Oludotun condemned the illegal conduct of some monarchs who often leased out land to illegal forest operators to perpetrate illicit operations within the reserves.

The State lawmakers also appraised the budget performance of some State higher institutions of learning including the Tai Solarin Universty of Education and Gateway ICT Polytechnic Saapade.