NAN-AE-1
Revenue
By Ebere Agozie
Abuja, Oct. 30, 2017 (NAN) The Nigeria National Parks Service says it generated N16.78 million between the first and second quarters of 2017.
Its Conservator-General, Mr Ibrahim Goni, made this known in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday.
Goni said that the amount comprised of revenue from compensations and fees paid by wildlife offenders and visitors to the park.
“Certain compensations were awarded to the Park by Nigerian courts from wildlife offenders and also fees that were collected from tourists,” he said.
He said that 325 wildlife offenders were arrested in the two quarters of the year across seven parks.
“The offenders were arrested for committing different offences contrary to the laws establishing national parks in the country,’’
He said the offences ranged from illegal hunting, logging, mining, grazing as well as illegal farming and entries.
Goni commended the efforts of the parks’ rangers, the Nigerian Police Force, the Army and other para-military agencies for their services at the various parks.
“Despite the enormous challenges of funds and the old and inferior guns at the disposal of our rangers, we are collaborating with all security agencies.
“The above bodies have been helping us carry out arrests to secure the resources and our national heritage at the parks.’’
The conservator-general, however, said that the service had been making frantic efforts to synergise with other paramilitary agencies and the military in the country.
“These forces will assist the rangers so as to enable them surmount the prevailing challenges in the parks,’’ he said. (NAN)
EPA/OFN/EAL
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Edited by Felix Nwadioha/Ekemini Ladejobi