Ogun State Government has launched an automated system for its forestry operations. The system would capture all the logging activities carried out in the nine forest reserves within the state, affirm financial transactions and record account of individual or group of timber contractors with the Ministry. While declaring open the staff training workshop on the use of the automated system in Abeokuta, the Commissioner for Forestry, Engr. Ayo Olubori said though the Ministry was not the only revenue generating agency for the state but the first to make use of automated devices to control its operations. He said the ministry was poised to reduce human surveillance in the government reserves adding that the newly introduced automated system would block financial leakages and stop the incessant attacks and molestations of the field officers. The commissioner urged the participants at the workshop to embrace and key into the new technology saying that to whom much is given, much is expected. On his part, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Engr. Olufolaranmi Onayemi urged all participants to embrace the new trend which has become inevitable if they must discharge their duties without fear or favour. He also encouraged them to maximize the opportunities that are embedded in the scheme while advising them to have full grasp of all the technicalities involved in the use of the automated system. Speaking on behalf of the participants, the Assistant Chief Forest Officer, Central Log Control (CLC) unit, Mr. Isah Adeleye lauded the new development adding that the system was overdue. He said they can now heave a sigh of relief from assaults and attacks by illegal tree fellers and bandits as the scheme would prevent guards against running after illegal operators and dubious timber contractors. The automated system has as its features, the inventory of the nine forest reserves within the state and their locations, the rules and regulations for logging activities, tariffs of every specie of trees in the state, Administrators account and also affords the contractors the opportunity to access their own account history with the Ministry.
Via: Ogun State Government - Official Press Release