Patronage
By Ebere Agozie
Kainji (Niger), May 9, 2018 (NAN) The National Parks Service (PKS) Board, has called on the National Assembly and other government agencies to patronise its parks across the country by holding their retreats and other activities at the parks.
The Chairman of the Board, Mr Ben Nwaobasi, made the call while briefing newsmen shortly after a closed door meeting with the management of Kainji Lake National Park (KLNP), Niger State on Wednesday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that KLNP covers an area of 5340.82sq.km with 52 standard chalets, 24 hours electricity supply, a conference centre, two swimming pools, a restaurant and bar.
It has a landscape with round and rolling hills, valleys, gentle flowing rivers, floral species and is endowed with diverse wildlife like lions, hippopotamuses, birds and reptiles of various kinds.
According to him, patronage by government institutions will go a long way in helping to develop the parks to acceptable global standards.
Nwaobasi said it would also enhance the revenue drive of the parks, thereby, contributing to the country’s economy.
“The National Assembly members and government agencies holding their retreats at our parks will enable them appreciate the more, the objectives for establishing the parks.
“The aim of the government is to develop a National Park System that could favourably compete with any other Park system around the globe that meets the hopes and aspirations of tourists.
“The parks management is working to preserve and protect the nation’s natural heritage and the cultural edifices that memorialise them across generations, and if we don’t patronise them, they will go moribund’’.
He also assured the management of KLNP of the board’s support to improve the park, but however, added that the parks needed government intervention.
The chairman urged network service providers to mount their masts at the park to provide services.
“It is encouraging to note that these parks are quietly making progress but need everyone’s support to ultimately achieve a self-sustaining national park system for sustainable development for Nigeria.’’
Earlier, Alhaji Ibrahim Goni, the Conservator-General of the PKS, said that Nigeria was blessed with natural ecosystems with unique attributes.
“Our parks ecosystems are not materially altered by human exploitation and occupation.
“The plants and animal species, geomorphologic sites and habitats are of special scientific, educational and procreative interest, which contain a natural landscape of great beauty.
“The parks play special tangible and intangible roles vital to national well-being of humans and its environment.’’
According to Goni, National parks enhance ecological processes and life support system such as soil regeneration, protection of nutrient cycles, cleansing and purifying hydrological cycles among others.
“And we have taken steps to eliminate any drawbacks as soon as possible and enforce effectively the respect for ecological, geomorphologic and scientific features.’’
NAN reports that members of the board and management of the parks had earlier paid a courtesy visit on the Emir of Borgu Kingdom, Alhaji Dani Dantoro.
In his response, the Emir promised cooperation of the Kingdom to the protection and preservation of the parks saying, “we will make sure that our subjects don’t trespass but rather work to keep them.’’
The members of the board and management of the parks also held a meeting with stakeholders in the community to solicit their support for the preservation and protection of the parks.
(NAN)
EPA/EEE
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Edited by Ese E. Ekama