Ten new parks would be taken over by the Federal Government between November and December 2023, according to Dr. Ibrahim Goni, Conservator-General of the National Park Service.
This information was revealed by Goni on Wednesday in Abuja when she met with the nine commissioners from the ten new national parks.
In order for the parks to be accounted for in the federal budget by 2024, he said they could be turned over to the federal government between November and December.
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Currently, the Federal Ministry of Justice is gazetteing the authorised national parks.
In his words, “With the gazetting, it means they have now become fully-fledged national parks. We are waiting for the parks to be handed over by the respective state governors to the Federal Government as national parks.”
The meeting was called, according to the conservator general, to provide stakeholders with an update on the status of the Federal Government’s efforts to hand over and take control of the ten new national parks.
“Prior to now, we held two stakeholder meetings where we talked about the presidential proclamation and the National Assembly’s approval.
In order to ensure a smooth opening of the ten new parks in their respective states, the majority of the states have informed us that they have purchased office space, administrative offices, and lodging for park officers.
Assuring us of the corporation of the towns where these parks are located, they have also done so, he continued.
People in the local towns, according to Goni, have indicated a desire to help the parks launch smoothly.
He was upbeat about how the act will advance their local economy and create job prospects.
Goni also mentioned security, reducing climate change, and regeneration to stop rural exodus as additional advantages for the host communities.
