Ogun Loses N500 Million Annually Due to Illegal Cocoa Farming – Timber Dealers Raise Alarm

Timber merchants in Ogun State have raised concerns over the increasing destruction of economic trees by illegal cocoa farmers in the Omo Forest Reserve, located in the J4 area of Ijebu Ode. The merchants, under the Ijebu Sawmillers and Timber Contractors Association, have called for urgent government intervention, claiming the state is losing over N500 million annually as a result of these activities.

According to the association, the illegal farmers use harmful chemicals to destroy World Bank-funded economic trees before planting cocoa and bananas. They alleged that 90% of the illegal cocoa farmers operating in the Ijebu East Local Government Area are non-indigenous, hailing from states like Benue, Edo, Kwara, Osun, Nasarawa, and Ondo.

Speaking to the press on Wednesday, the Chairman of the association’s Board of Trustees, Aliu Ibrahim, lamented the state’s loss of eight out of its nine forest reserves to these activities, leaving only the Omo Forest Reserve at J4 relatively untouched.

“They are ruthless, using chemicals to kill valuable trees funded by the World Bank, and replacing them with cocoa and banana plantations,” Ibrahim stated. He called on Governor Dapo Abiodun to act decisively, citing Ondo State as a model where illegal farmers were expelled from government forest reserves.

The association’s Secretary, Opeoluwa Idowu, noted that these illegal farmers are often armed and pose a danger to those trying to protect the forests. “We’ve planted trees across 15 hectares, only for these farmers to destroy them. They frequently attack us, armed with dangerous weapons,” Idowu said, urging the government to take action before the last remaining reserve is lost.

Idowu further emphasized that the timber business in Ogun East, which includes Ijebu and Remo areas, is sustained largely by the Omo Forest Reserve. “The state government is losing over N500 million annually to these illegal activities,” he added.

Funmileye Akinukawe, the group’s secretary, commended Governor Abiodun and the Commissioner for Forestry, Taiwo Oludotun, for their previous efforts to monitor illegal farming activities. However, he warned that the situation has escalated, with illegal farmers now controlling more than 90% of the Omo Forest Reserve.

In response, Commissioner for Forestry Engr. Taiwo Oludotun confirmed that the government is aware of the problem and is actively taking steps to address the issue.