In its effort to restore sanity and ensure that activities in its forestry subsector are carried out in line with best practice, the Ogun State government has embarked on the biometric – data capturing of new and existing timber contractors in the State. Flagging off the programme today at the Ministry’s conference room in Abeokuta, Commissioner for Forestry, Engr. Ayo Olubori stated that the essence of the biometric data capturing was to curb illegal forestry operations, impersonation of timber contractors and also ensure that the forestry business was done within the ambit of the law.
Olubori added that it was a follow-up to the recently launched automation of forestry operations, adding that the innovation was the first of its kind in the whole nation.
“You will remember that recently, the ministry of forestry as part of its contribution towards rebuilding the State launched the automated system for forestry operations and this is in continuation of the process and it is the first of such in the nation today” he noted.
According to him, data gathered during the exercise would be used to generate an identity card for the timber contractors, saying that like the national identity card, it could only be useful to the holder.The Commissioner also noted that the identity card would safe the timber contractors from unnecessary embarrassments and accusations as no one could impersonate them as their data would have been automatically registered with the ministry.
Reacting to the development, a timber contractor from Oja Odan, Yewa South Local Government Area of the State, Mr. Adebowale Fakeye lauded the State Government for the initiative describing it as a step in the right direction.
Via: Ogun State Government - Official Press Release