Professor Ayodeji Omole, Chairman of the Governing Council of LAUTECH, has expressed serious concerns about how terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping are jeopardizing forestry practices in Nigeria.
During his inaugural lecture at the University of Ibadan, he highlighted that insecurity, particularly in forest estates, is the primary challenge facing the sector.
He lamented that military efforts to combat these issues appear ineffective, as bandits increasingly occupy forests across the country. Omole emphasized that this situation has deteriorated significantly since the emergence of Boko Haram in 2013, leading to a continuous escalation of violence affecting both the forests and the communities around them.