‎Ogun generates N128m from forest, proposes N1.5bn for 2015

Ogun State Ministry of Forestry says it has so far generated a revenue of N128.9 million as of October 2014, just as it proposes to cultivate ‎about 900 hectares of land for the production of timber and non-timber forest resources.

Adebayo Fari, commissioner for forestry, who disclosed this while defending the year 2015 budget before the Ogun State House of Assembly Committee on Finance and Appropriation, noted that in the coming year, the ministry planned to spend N1.568 billion as its total expenditure.

Of that amount, N389 million was being earmarked for personnel and overhead costs, while N1.179 billion had been set aside for execution of capital projects.

He also disclosed that next year, his ministry would ensure food security, provision of raw materials for industrial growth and expansion of infrastructural facilities for socio – economic development with emphasis on sustainable environment.

He explained that measures were being taken to curb the activities of illegal occupancy in the Forest Reserves, which is the reason patrolling and monitoring have been one of the ministry’s major activities.

The forestry commissioner assured that next year, his ministry would carry out comprehensive inventory of nine forest reserves in the state, starting with Omo and Olokemeji forest reserves.
In a related development, the Ogun State Forestry Plantation Project (Area J4) intends to establish additional 400 hectares of teak and gmelina plantations as well as 500 hectares of logged area for regeneration and revenue generation purposes.
To achieve this, the plantation plans to spend N284 million as its total expenditure in year 2015, of this amount, N134 million had been budgeted for recurrent expenditure, while N150 million was set aside for capital expenditure.