Jigawa State Government has assured the National Park Service (NPS) of assistance in the smooth transition of the Hadejia Wetland Game Reserve to a national park.
Gov. Mohammed Abubakar of Jigawa gave the assurance when Dr Ibrahim Goni, the Conservator-General (CG) of NPS, and his entourage, paid him a courtesy visit in Dutse, the state capital.
Abubakar, who was represented by his deputy, Malam Umar Namadi, further assured NPS of all required support for the smooth take-off of operations at the park.
“We believe that taking over that park will bring a lot of benefit to our people.
“The Hadejia Wetland Game Reserve is a very important National Park because it is historic.
“It has a long history and I’m sure that once it is taken over by the Federal Government, that park will be known internationally,” he said.
The governor further assured that all members at the National Assembly from Jigawa would speed up processes to support the taking-over of the park in the state.
Earlier, Goni urged the state to take the handing-over of the park seriously, to avoid degradation.
The CG implored the state government to provide office accomodation within and around the designated National Park which was also in line with the stakeholders’ resolution.
Goni commended Jigawa State for having Sen. Ibrahim Hadejia as the Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment, at the National Assembly.
He expressed optimism that for the service to attain great success in the handing and taking over of the 10 new national parks in the nine states of the federation, the Senator would live up to expectation.
Similarly, the Kano State Government has assured the NPS of necessary support in the discharge of its operations in Falgore Game Reserve now a national park in the state.
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje gave the assurance when Dr Goni paid him a courtesy visit in Kano.
Ganduje, who was represented by Dr Ali Hamza, Commissioner for History, Culture and Tourism, apologised for the communication gap between the state and the NPS.
“I’m assuring the CG and his entourage that henceforth any meeting that is going to take place in Abuja with regards to this national assignment on the establishment of national parks, Kano State will be at the forefront.
“Kano is interested, Kano is willing and Kano will be in the forefront,” he assured the service.
Earlier, the CG said that NPS bought 10 vehicles for all the states where new parks have been established with the take-off grant the Federal Government provided.
“We bought firearms, patrol vehicles and office equipment,” Goni said.
He urged the state government to provide office accomodation for the smooth take-off of the national park in the state.
Goni also requested the state government to liaise with the necessary security agencies like Civil Defence, Immigration, and the Nigerian Army to secure the arms that the park has procured for the new park.
He demanded that relevant stakeholders like the youth, women and traditional rulers should be carried along in the smooth take-off of the national park.
By Abigael Joshua
