Conservator-General (C-G), National Park Service (NPS), Dr Ibrahim Goni, says creating awareness on biodiversity conservation aligns with the mandate of the National Park Service.
Goni communicated this when a team from the Climate and Sustainable Development Network of Nigeria (CSDevNet), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), paid him a courtesy visit on Thursday, March 7, 2024, in Abuja.
Goni, who was represented by the Assistant Conservator-General (AC-G), Ecology and Resource Management, Dr Mohammed Kabir, commended the group for the visit and assured of park’s readiness for more collaboration on biodiversity conservation.
Earlier, Mr Umoru Ameh, Finance and Admin Officer, CSDevNet, said that the group was ready to foster collaboration with the National Park Service on its ongoing projects related to biodiversity conservation education and awareness.
The CSDevNet team also embarked on a tour of NPS facilities such as the museum and the animal orphanage.
Danjuma Magaji, Deputy Conservator-General (DC-P) at the museum, said awareness was key to biodiversity conservation.
Newton James, Deputy Conservator-General (DC-P) in charge of NPS Animal Orphanage, said the facility was used to conserve rescued wildlife.
“We don’t keep animals in captivity because we are not zookeepers; we raise rescued animals from poachers,’’ he said.
More so, the group paid a courtesy visit to Dr Agnes Asagbra, the Director-General (D-G) of the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), who expressed willingness to partner with it on biodiversity conservation.
Asagbra, who was represented by Mrs Scholastica Bello, acting Director Planning, Research and Statistics Unit, NBMA, assured that the agency would remain committed to allowing only safe Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) come into the country.
“Presently, we are not at the ports to monitor illegal entry of GMOs, but we have a memorandum of understanding with those at the ports,” she said.
By Abigael Joshua
