By Terna Chikpa, Jalingo
The African Nature Investors, on Thursday called on the Federal Government to wade into the activities of illegal miners around the northern part of Gashaka-Gumti National Park in Adamawa State.
Mr Tunde Morakinyo, the Executive director of the organisation disclosed during the commissioning of the national park’s outpost in Toungo local government area of Adamawa that, illegal miners were operating few mitres away from the park, noting that their activities pose criminal threat, not just to the park but entire Communities housing the national park.
He expressed worry that the miners activities if not tackle, may hamper the core aim of ANI in projecting the Park to be Africa tourist center.
According to the executive director, ANI was poised to developing the Africa nature, tapping from the federal government idea of establishing national Parks across Nigeria to attract tourism in 1991.
“The idea of establishing the national parks was initiated by the federal government in 1991, to protect the Africa nature and attract tourism in Nigeria. ANI with the key aim of protecting and promoting nature, has key in to partner on how to develop the parks to become Africa tourist centre.
“However, the Gashaka-Gumti National Park as wish to become a magnet of development in Nigeria, is facing threat like, illegal mining, lodging, farm encroachment and cattle grazing.
“As you may know, illegal mining comes with criminality. Criminals comes in the name of mining and perpetrate crime. We wish to appeal to both state and federal government to close down the mining site to avoid the impending danger of insecurity.
“The Gumti National Park has been a peaceful Park in Nigeria and we want it to remain so.
“The idea to establish the park outpost in the north is to tackle insecurity and create more jobs for youths within the park communities.
“For many years, the northern Gashaka-Gumti sector faced serious security challenges and there was no permanent rangers in the area. Being prompters of the national park, we went into partnership and agreed to build the Gumti outpost.
“The outpost houses over 50 rangers and support staff permanently here within the north of the park. The outpost has 24 hours electricity, with water all year round and 24 hours internet services. We are making sure that the park attract development in Nigeria. The executive director expressed.
Meanwhile, Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal thanked ANI Foundation for the tourist attraction initiative.
The minister who was represented by the Conservator General, Gashaka-Gumti National Park, Ibrahim Goni, assured the FG’s support, since the initiative was targeted toward the growth of the natural heritage.
“The strategic collaboration between the National Park Service and African Nature Investors began in November 2017 through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), that has yielded positive outcome.
“The partnership is to provide technical and financial support for the Services of Gashaka Gumti National Park with a view to enhance park protection, policing and management,” the minister noted.
Reacting, the Adamawa State Governor, Umaru Fintiri, and the Paramount ruler of Genye of Dangwati Genye, HRH, Alh. Umaru Sanda, both commended ANI for the commitment toward promoting nature for tourist attraction.
Fintiri who was represented by Toungo local government council, Ahmed Sule, pledged to ensure ANI’s success in the state.
