By Abbas Nazil
The Conservator-General of the National Park Service, Dr. Ibrahim Musa Goni, has urged Nigerians to embrace plastic waste recycling in coastal areas to protect sea turtles from extinction.
Dr. Goni made the call at the Sea Turtle Awakening Programme organized by the Green Fingers Wildlife Conservation Initiative at Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos.
The event was aimed at raising awareness about the importance of sea turtles, their ecological roles, and the challenges threatening their survival in Nigeria.
Speaking as a special guest, Dr. Goni commended the organizers for involving students as key stakeholders in promoting sea turtle conservation.
He emphasized that engaging young people in the campaign will help build trust, sustainability, and hope for the future of marine conservation.
Dr. Goni praised the creativity of students who showcased exhibitions illustrating the ecological significance of sea turtles and the dangers of ocean pollution.
He encouraged them to sustain their advocacy and commitment to environmental protection.
Dr. Goni also enlightened the audience on the distinctions between national parks, forest reserves, and game reserves, explaining that national parks are managed by the federal government while forest and game reserves are under states jurisdiction.
The CG noted that Nigeria has national parks across all geopolitical zones except the Southeast, urging state governments to initiate the process of upgrading forest reserves to national parks.
Director of Green Fingers Wildlife Conservation Initiative, Mr. Chinedu Mogbo, expressed gratitude to Dr. Goni and other dignitaries for attending despite their busy schedules.
The event featured exhibitions, debates, and drama performances, with notable contributions from conservation experts including Dr. Joseph Onoja and Professor Kehinde Kemabonta.
