NAN-AE-3
Ecotourism
By Ebere Agozie
Abuja, Jan. 11, 2018 (NAN) The Nigerian National Parks Service says the partial commercialisation of the service, using three key national parks as pilot projects, will boost ecotourism and revenue generation in the country.
Alhaji Ibrahim Goni, the Conservator-General of the service, said this in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday.
NAN recalls that the National Council on Privatisation (NCP), chaired by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, met on Aug. 22 and 23, 2017 and approved the partial commercialisation of the three national parks.
Goni said that the three pilot parks were Kainji Lake National Park (KLNP) in Niger, Gashaka Gumti National Park (GGNP) in Taraba and Adamawa, and Cross River National Park (CRNP).
“Ecotourism is about uniting conservation, communities and sustainable travels; this means that we must implement, participate in and market ecotourism activities.
“It’s a protected area with minimised physical, social, behavioural and psychological impacts.
“It provides direct financial benefits for conservation; it also generates financial benefits for the local people and private industries,’’ he said.
Goni stressed that ecotourism provided effective economic incentives for conserving and enhancing bio-cultural diversity, which helped in protecting the natural and cultural heritage of the country.
“Ecotourism is an effective vehicle for empowering local communities around the parks; it will help in fighting poverty and achieving sustainable development.
“Certainly, this development (partial commercialisation of parks) will increase local capacity building and employment opportunities,’’ he added.
Goni urged Nigerians to engage in recreation in adjacent parks in their neighbourhoods and maintain the culture.
He said that this would go a long way in promoting and improving domestic tourism, better integration and peace in the country. (NAN)
EPA/MOL/OOK
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Edited by Mustapha Lamidi and Dayo Komolafe