13th April, 2017
The Osun Government is to receive of 250 million U.S. dollars after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Nigerian Conservative Foundation (NCF) on an eco-tourism and zoological project.
Mr Tunde Ajilore, the Special Senior Assistant to the Governor on Forestry, Natural and Mineral Resources, made this known in Ile-Ife, Osun.
Ajilore spoke when he led members of the Shasha Forest Reserve White Paper Implementation Committee to the Area Five axis of Shasha Forest Reserve, Ile-Ife.
He said that the signing of the MoU was, however, stalled by the activities of those who had encroached on the forest reserves in the state.
“Osun is one of the three lucky states from the South-West zone of the country to benefit from the NCF project.
“It is rather unfortunate that illegal encroachment and unauthorised farming activities in Shasha Forest Reserve happen to be the only impediment delaying Osun from signing the MoU,’’ he said.
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Ajilore said that his committee was in Ile-Ife to establish the boundary of the forest reserve and ascertain the extent of the encroachment therein.
He said that the team would also sensitise all the illegal occupants of the reserve, including farmers, to the desirability of vacating the place.
Ajilore urged all the illegal occupants of the forest reserve to see their eviction order as a sacrifice for the common good of the people of Osun.
He also warned that bush burning, farming, hunting of animals and lumbering activities in the forest reserve should cease, adding that anyone who contravened the regulation would be sanctioned.