The state commissioner for Forestry, Chief Dele Onalaja, told newsmen that the centres, established last year, were located at Ilaro, Olokemeji and Area J6 and that the project would create job opportunities for youths and alleviate poverty in the society through employment generation.

The commissioner explained that the ministry accorded priority attention to the promotion of self-employment by encouraging the establishment of wood-related business ventures statewide, noting that there were 310 registered sawmills in the state.

Similarly, a total of 1,673 property hammers were registered out of which only 1,200 were renewed in 2004, while in order to manage, protect and regulate exploitation of timber and allied forest products, some registered timber contractors were given allocation in various forest reserves.

He disclosed that 100 new motorcycles were purchased for distribution to forest field officers by the state government to enable them police the state’s forest reserves adequately.