The Nigerian senate has approved the creation of ten new national parks across the country.
The approval follows a motion titled the National Park (Declaration) Order, by senate leader, Senator Gobir, Ibrahim (Sokoto East-) presented on the floor of the Senate
President Muhammad Buhari had in an Executive Communication to the Senate dated 16th November 2022, requested the approval of the upper chamber for the creation of parks
The National Park (declaration) Order seeks to establish ten (10) additional National Parks in 12 selected Forests and Game Reserves in various States of the Federation.
The parks include
- Alawa National Park, Niger State
2 Apoi National Park, Bayelsa State
- Edumenun National Park, Bayelsa State
- Galgore National Park, Kano State,
- Hadejia Wetland National Park, Jigawa State
- Kempe National Park, Kwara State
- Kogo National Park, Katsina State;
- Marhi National Park, Nassarawa State
- Oba Hill National Park, Osun State and
- Pandam National Park, Plateau State.
According to the senate leader, these additional Parks are necessary for the regulation of the use of Nigeria’s unique ecosystem, as well as address the fast rate of disappearance and degradation of Nigeria’s forest in line with international best practices
Contributing to the debate senator Sabi Abdullahi (Niger North) lamented that the existing parks across the country are poorly funded, and require government intervention
MUST READ: Senate Extends N819.536bn 2022 Supplementary Budget Implementation To June 2023
He added that the likes of kainji national park established in 1964 is a shadow of its glory as well as many other parks
Senator Sabi stated that the federal government should come up with a funding mechanism to ensure the old and new parks are properly funded and revived as a national asset
Also reacting senator Sani Musa (Niger East) stated that countries like Kenya and South Africa generate funds from their parks, calling on the federal government to come up with a legal framework that would make them work
According to him Some of these parks have become havens for bandits
After deliberation, the lawmakers approved the creation of the ten parks.
Editor : Ena Agbanoma
