PMB committed to increasing forest cover under protective management – CG Goni
…. Commends Governor Lalong 16 Man Transition Technical Committee on Pandam National Park
Oru Leonard
The Conservator-General, National Park Service, Dr. Ibrahim Musa Goni has affirmed that the recent establishment of ten (10) additional National Parks in Nigeria is the clear indication of the commitment and resolve of the government of President Muhammadu Buhari to increase the amount of forest cover under protective management, enhance socio-economic development and reduce insecurity and negative impacts of climate change in Nigeria in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The Conservator-General said this while presenting his remark at the inauguration event of a Transition Technical Committee on the smooth handing and taking over of Pandam National Park in Qua’an Pan Local Government Area of Plateau State at the Old Government House of Plateau State, Jos.
Dr. Goni said in November, 2020, President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR), approved the establishment of additional ten (10) National Parks in Nigeria bringing the total number of the National Parks in the Country to Seventeen including Pandam National Park. He said the other new National Parks include:
i. Edumenum and Apoi in Bayelsa State
ii. Allawa in Niger State
iii. Kampe in Kwara State
iv. Oba Hills in Osun State
v. Hadeja Wetland in Jigawa State
vi. Kogo in Katsina State
vii. Falgore in Kano State
viii. Marhai in Nasarawa State.
He disclosed that the journey that led to the establisment of these new National Parks started in 1992 immediately after the enactment of the Decree 36 which established the first set of five (5) National Parks when several States indicated their interest to upgrade their Forest/Game reserves to National Parks.
This action according to him which brought about ecological and socio-economic inventory of the Forest/Game reserves by the National Park Service eventually culminated in the establishment of the ten (10) new National Parks.
The Conservator-General further disclosed that the State Governments of the respective new National Parks have been engaging with the National Park Service for a smooth take over. He said worthy of mention was the enlarged stakehoders’ meeting held at the National Park Service Headquarters, Abuja in January, 2022 which Plateau State was duly represented to among others agree on how to expend the take-off grant approved by the Federal Government in the 2021 appropriation.
He added that in the meeting one of the key resolutions reached was that each State Government will as a matter of importance constitute an implementation Committee that will facilitate the smooth handing and taking over processes of the new Park in its dormain.
The Conservator-General commeded the Executive Governor of Plateau State , Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong who in pursuance of the resolution on the implementation Committee has taken the bold step to inaugurate a Transition Technical Committee on Pandam National Park. He congratulated all the members of the Committee and charged them to bring to bear their wealth of experience and technical-no-how in realizing the key objectives of the establishment of their Committee.
Thereafter, the Members of the Transition Techinical Committee on the Pandam National Park were inaugurated by His Excellency, Executive Governor of Plateau State ably represented by Hon Sa’ad Bello, the Commissioner for Water Resources and Energy. This was immediately followed by presentation of sensitization souvenirs to the Governor and members of the Transition Committee by the Conservator-General of National Park Service.
(NPS Media)
