Southwest Governors Declare Decision On Forest Ownership

All Governors of the six Southwest states of Nigeria on Saturday adopted the decision by the National Economic Council on forest ownership and management across the country.

Concluding the security meeting in the Oyo State Government House, the Chairman of the South-West Governors Forum and Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, told newsmen that in line with NEC position, all the states should be in charge of their forests.

They also agreed that stronger measures must be taken to tighten security around border areas to stop the incursion of foreign herdsmen.

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“We believe that all the states should be in a position to manage their forests,” Akeredolu said. “And that will give enough room to determine who and who are there, what purpose are they serving, and where you have people there illegally, the state should be able to take some steps, so that we can preserve our forests.”

The meeting had been scheduled at the instance of the Chief of Staff to the President ,Prof Gambari, but he was absent, as he could not fly out of Abuja due to bad weather.

Also, absent for the same reason were the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, and the Director-General of the Department of State Services, Yusuf Bichi.

The meeting was attended by five governors including the host, Governor Makinde; Governors Akeredolu of Ondo, Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti, Gboyega Oyetola of Osun, and Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State.

Also at the meeting was the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of South-West, David Folawiyo, and security chiefs serving in Oyo State.

Others included the chairmen of Council of Traditional Rulers in each of the South-West states and some first-class monarchs.

According to Akeredolu, the meeting was held to find lasting solutions to the lingering security issues in the zone.

Some of the traditional rulers who took part in the meeting include the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi; Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III; Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji, Akarigbo of Remo, Oba Babatunde Ajayi; Olugbo of Ugbo kingdom, Oba Fredrick Akinruntan; Aje Ogungunnjso 1; and Olugbon of Orile Igbon, Oba Francis Olusola Alao.

Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Ngozi Onadeko, and other heads of security agencies in Oyo State were also present.