By Gabriel Yough
The Minister of Environment, Alhaji Balarabe Lawal, on Friday urged renewed collaboration with Africa Nature Investors (ANI) Foundation and other stakeholders to safeguard the Gashaka-Gumti National Park.
Lawal made the call at the 7th Stakeholders’ Meeting of the Southern Sector of the park, organised by ANI Foundation at the 20 Modern Battalion, Serti, in Gashaka Local Government Area of Taraba.
Represented by the Conservator-General of Parks, Dr Ibrahim Goni, the minister recalled that the National Park Service (NPS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with ANI Foundation in 2017 to provide financial and technical support in complementing the Federal Government’s conservation efforts.
He commended the partnership, noting that it had significantly improved conditions within the park and enhanced the livelihoods of surrounding support-zone communities.
Lawal urged all stakeholders to continue supporting ANI Foundation to further strengthen conservation outcomes, describing Gashaka-Gumti National Park as not only the largest in Nigeria but also one of the richest in biodiversity.
He said that the park provided critical ecosystem services, including wildlife protection, watershed conservation, and preservation of archaeological and historical sites.
The minister expressed concern over illegal activities such as poaching, grazing, mining, farming and river poisoning, which he said continued to undermine conservation efforts by the Federal Government and its partners.
He disclosed that President Bola Tinubu had recently signed an Executive Order aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, curbing illegal logging, mining, grazing and hunting, and promoting sustainable development.
According to him, the order targets a 12 per cent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions, improved air quality, increased renewable energy use, job creation and enhanced energy security.
Lawal also said the President had approved the establishment of Forest Guards to complement the efforts of the armed forces and other security agencies in tackling banditry and terrorism.
He added that over 7,000 forest guards had been trained and deployed across seven pilot states, including Taraba.
In his welcome remarks, the Conservator-General of NPS, Dr Goni, described Gashaka-Gumti National Park as Nigeria’s most diverse protected area, surrounded by 55 support-zone communities and six enclave communities.
Goni commended ANI Foundation for its timely intervention in infrastructure development, security, community engagement, communication technology, research, education and livelihood empowerment.
In his keynote address titled “Balancing Heritage and Preservation”, a retired Federal High Court Judge, Justice Ibrahim Buba, described the park as “the lungs of the region and the inheritance of future generations.”
Commenting on the proposal by NPS and ANI Foundation to phase out grazing within the park’s boundaries, Buba described it as a major policy shift that must be guided by law, fairness and compassion.
Also speaking, Dr George Okeyoyin, ANI Foundation’s Senior Strategic Adviser, said that the session was part of the foundation’s continuous engagement aimed at bringing pastoralists, farmers and other stakeholders together to foster understanding and cooperation.
According to him, ANI initiatives such as cattle vaccination in communities around the park, livelihood support for women, and the creation of savings and loan groups for women and youths will further enhance conservation efforts. (NAN)
Edited by Isaac Ukpoju
