ABUJA – The Nigeria National Parks Service has reiterated its readiness to open its doors for partners who will make the nation’s parks famous tourist destinations.
Alhaji Ibrahim Goni, the Conservator-General of the park said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.
Goni said that the seven parks across the country if properly harnessed would generate tremendous revenues through research.
He said that such partnerships would strengthen the parks’ roles in regulating ecosystems and protecting endangered species.
“We need both local and international partners that will provide best technical expertise and financial support for conservation activities.
“These partnerships include focusing on research, building and maintenance of ecosystem and biodiversity as well as securing the parks by strengthening the park rangers.
“These rangers face daily challenges posed by logging, poaching, excessive cattle herding among others to conserve and revamp the natural resources embedded in the parks’’.
Goni noted that many countries were already generating huge revenues from their national parks.
He called on Nigeria to also tap into the economy boosting capability of its parks.
“We have reserved areas, nature at its original form which needs to be developed and still retains its original form, but we cannot do it alone, hence the call for more partnerships.
“The service is already into partnership with both local and international universities, research institutes, private sector and NGOs to make our dream of having the best park in the world come true.’’
NAN reports that the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) chaired by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo met on August 22 and 23, 2017 and approved the partial commercialisation of the three national parks.
NAN also reports that the three pilot parks are Kainji Lake National Park (KLNP) in Niger, Gashaka Gumti National Park (GGNP) in Taraba and Adamawa and Cross River National Park (CRNP).
