Ogun govt orders demolition of N20m illegal bridge inside Omo Forest Reserve

Bankole Taiwo, Abeokuta

Ogun State government has ordered immediate demolition of a N20m unlawful flyover bridge under construction across Oluwa River, a boundary between Omo forest, Area J4 in Ijebu East and Ondo State.

The Commissioner for Forestry, Hon. Tunji Akinosi, who led a monitoring team to Laagan Village, where the unauthorised construction of about 50 meters long bridge was located ordered the settlers to pull it down within two weeks before the next monitoring exercise slated for January 21.

Akinosi who condemned this illegal act in strongest term blamed the illegal loggers operating in the state forest for this criminal activities saying that the objectives behind the construction of the flyover bridge was to enable illegal loggers have easy access to transportation of the stolen State’s forest resources fondly called ‘Alamole’ to the neighbouring States.

He has however, pointed out that the present administration would not fold its arms and allow illegal settlers to take over the forest reserve, adding that some unscrupulous elements were behind the illegal construction which must have gulped about 15 to 20 million naira.

Hon. Akinosi noted that many of the settlers who keep illegal arms to perpetrate crimes would be arrested and charged to court, saying, armed soldiers would remain part of the frequent monitoring exercises in order to prevent banditry which is becoming prevalent nationwide.