AJAYI SOLICITS FOR FARMERS SUPPORT TO DRIVE REVENUE GENERATION IN THE FOREST RESERVES
The consultant to the Ondo State Government on Farmers Registration and Land Rent in the Forest Reserves Mr Femi Ajayi has solicited for the cooperation of all farmers farming in the Ondo State Forest Reserves to pay their registration and land rent on time explaining that the Ondo State Governor His Excellency Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa will continue to prioritize their safety and security all the time.
The consultant made the revelation during a stakeholders meeting with the farmers and his consulting firm God Lovely Nigeria Enterprises yesterday stating that the Ondo State Government and the farmers have enough to benefit as a result of payment of their registration and land rent.
He was full of appreciations to the farmers for turning out in their large numbers to attend the stakeholders meeting held at Adegbemile Cultural Center, Akure, the Ondo State Capital.
He appealed for the support of all farmers in the Forest explaining that no illegal activities will be tolerated in the forest henceforth.
He explained that there was nothing like extortion or illegal collection from the Firm pointing out that those who are peddling rumour of extortion has no evidence to prove their wrong allegations. In his words “our firm got the job based on our credibility and accountability from the state government, and we are yet to start working let alone collecting money from any farmer” Femi Ajayi explained.
He stated that his firm will not hesitate to sanction any of their staff that might involved themselves in shady deals explaining that staff of the Firm will undergo training and seminar with a view to fostering good public relations with the farmers and the staff of the consulting firm before they begin their job in the Forest Reserves and enjoined all the community leaders to give them full cooperation.
The representative of the governor Mr. Gani Mohammed stated that the Ondo State Government valued the importance of the farmers to food production and explained that already the Governor has purchased Hilux Vans for security agencies in Ondo State with a view to providing security for all and sundry and admonished the farmers to equally play their own role of payment of registration and land rent fees.
However,the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Mrs Foluke Tunde- Daramola stated that for one hectre of land allotted ,farmers will be requested to pay twenty thousand naira each,while identification card goes for fifteen thousand naira only per farmer which covers logistics and consultancy.