…Urges Industries On Workers’ COVID-19 Vaccination Compliance
November 14, (THEWILL) – Ogun State Government has expressed readiness to enact law to prosecute illegal tree fellers especially those who plant cocoa or cocoyam in forest reserves across the state
Governor Dapo Abiodun stated this in Abeokuta, during the Treasury Board Meeting on year 2022-2024 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and the 2022 Budget.
Abiodun said that his administration would commence an advocacy programme on radio and television to enlighten the people on the consequences of tree felling on the environment.
“We need to enact a law that will provide stiffer penalties for those that are caught in illegal tree felling, as well as step up massive advocacy and warnings on radio and television, so that anyone caught in the act, will be made to face the full wrath of the law,” he added.
Engr. Tunji Akinosi, Commissioner For Forestry, decried the extent at which some people ring exotic trees such as the melina, to plant cocoa or cocoyam in the forest reserve.
Akinosi added that efforts at sensitising the people against entering the reserves for illegal activities had proved abortive.
He, however, noted that the law to criminalise activities of illegal tree fellers is currently at the stage of being passed by the State House of Assembly
In another development, the Commissioner for Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs. Kikelomo Longe, has called on industries operating within the state to encourage their employees to get vaccinated, following the 60-day ultimatum given to residents to get vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus.
Longe made the call during a tour of Olam Nigeria Limited and the TGI Group in Sagamu, stating that through the support of industries, the government would consolidate on the successes recorded towards flattening the curve of the pandemic.
She commended the companies for enforcing the COVID-19 guidelines, assuring that the present administration would continue to improve the ease of doing business, to enable businesses to thrive, as well as, attract more investments into the State.
“We are playing an advocacy role and mobilising the industries so that they can also mobilise their workers to get vaccinated. Beyond the workers, they can also encourage their direct families, so they can be part of the targeted 2 million people who will be vaccinated. We want to make sure all industries in Ogun State tap into this mass vaccination programme”, the Commissioner said.
She called on the industries to tap into the advantages derivable from the State Agro-cargo airport which the present administration is currently constructing and the Economic Development Clusters (EDC), as well as, the African Development Bank Special Agro-processing Zone which is being established in the State.
The Commissioner added that industries would also have the opportunity of getting the quality assurance approval of their products with the Afrexim Quality Assurance Centre, which would soon commence operation in the state.
In his remark, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Industry, Trade and Investment, Chief Remi Ogunmefun, assured that the Ministry would continue to provide necessary assistance for industries and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises to flourish, urging them to continue to relate with the government.
Also speaking, the Group Director, Corporate Services, TGI Group, Sagamu, Mr. Michael Onabola, re-affirmed the company’s commitment to relate with the government, adding that all of its workers had been vaccinated through the support of the State government.
Earlier , the Business Managing Director, Olam Nigeria Limited, Mr. Mayank Paliwal, lauded the government’s support towards the development of industries operating in the state, saying
Paliwal added that the organisation was willing to tap into the advantages of the agro-cargo airport project, the Economic Development Clusters (EDC), as well as the Afrexim Quality Assurance Center, as it continues to increase its export volume to the international market.
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