Punch Newspapers: Our members are dying of hunger, Timber traders tell Akeredolu

Punch Newspapers Breaking News, Nigeria, Africa, News, Entertainment & Video News

Our members are dying of hunger, Timber traders tell Akeredolu Mar 13th 2017, 15:58, by Ayodele Oluwagbemi Peter Dada, Akure Timber traders in Ondo State on Monday lamented that the closure of forest in the state had negatively affected their business and lives. To this end, the traders  under auspices of the Timber Traders Organisation appealed to the state government to lift the ban on the forest activities in the state in order ameliorate their suffering, saying lives had been very difficult for them following the ban . It was gathered that the state governor, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu has ordered for the closure of the forests and the free zones in the state to check the activities of forest encroachers. The development has consequently put a ban on all forest activities until further notice. The state chairman of the union, Mr. Samuel Olukayode, said the traders were caught unaware over the closure of the forest reserves and it had affected their business. He explained that most of the timber traders in the state obtained loans from banks to carry out their businesses, noting that the closure would affect the payment of the loans . Another leaders of the union and chairman of the union in Akure South Local Government, Mr.  Kunle Omotosho also appealed to the state governor look into the matter. He said, “The forest was closed across the state because of the atrocity of illegal encroachers, but we operate legally and remit to the coffers of the state government as and when due. “We want to appeal to the government to listen to our appeal and save us from the present situation, we are losing money day in day out while the present economy is seriously biting harder on us. "Some encroachers have ruined the business. Our forest had been taken over by these people from other states. They are in the forest now working without any hindrance while some  government officials are working hand in hand with them.”

You are receiving this email because you subscribed to this feed at blogtrottr.com. By using Blogtrottr, you agree to our polices, terms and conditions. If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you can unsubscribe from this feed, or manage all your subscriptions.