By Omotayo Edubi
Nigerian government has approved the establishment of the first Marine Park in West Africa to be situated in Bayelsa State to protect aquatic species.
The Conservator-General of the Nigeria Park Service, Dr Ibrahim Musa Goni, revealed this to the Management of NatureNews online and ClimateAfrica Magazine who paid him a courtesy visit at the Abuja headquarters this week.
“Marine parks are protected areas of sea, oceans, estuaries or large lakes where human activities are restricted for conservation purposes.
“It’s not only human activities in the marine environment that affect life in the sea but also the things we do on land.
“The marine park will ensure that oceans and marine species are preserved and protected.’’
Dr Goni revealed that President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the establishment of 10 new national parks across the country bringing the total number of national parks to 17 nationwide.
The Conservator-General listed the new parks to be as follows Apoi Forest Reserve (Bayelsa State): Alawa Game Reserve (Niger State); Edumenum Forest Reserve (Bayelsa State); Falgore Game Reserve (Kano State); HadejiaWetlands Games Reserve (Nasarawa State); Kampe Forest Reserve (Kwara State); Kogo Forest Reserve (Katsina State); Marai Forest Reserve ( Jigawa State); Oba Hill Forest Reserve (Osun State); and Pandam Forest Reserve (Plateau State).
Dr Goni called for media support and advocacy in enlightening the public about the National Park Service.
“The National Park is an agency that people misunderstand our job and sometimes give this service different meaning.
“We would like the media to shed more light on the importance of this reserves and parks,” he said.
The Publisher/ Editor-in-Chief of NatureNews online and ClimateAfrica magazine, Mr Aliu Akoshile, while presenting the maiden edition of the magazine assured the Conservator General of full media support and promotion of the efforts put in place by the Nigeria Park Service in making sure Nigeria has the best Reserves and Parks.
“NatureNews is a major newspaper in Nigeria that focuses on the environment and compasses the physical and natural.
“We started NatureNews, to have a clear focus on the issue of environment or the law of conservation animals, we think that the common denominator for all of us as human beings is the environment, we are Looking at the environment in its totality, biosafety, biodiversity and conservation.
“We are willing to partner with all stakeholders in the environmental space “ he said.
