National Park Service says its protecting the ecological integrity of the Nation and over the years remained resolute and committed to preserving these unique heritages in the various ecosystems.
Dr Ibrahim Goni, the Conservator General, National Park Service said this while on courtesy visit to the Director-General, Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) on Tuesday in Abuja.
Goni noted that the service is also working towards increasing the areas under protection through the establishment of additional National Parks.
“We are at the forefront in the mitigation of climate change, drought and desertification in the country and also play a pivotal role in the amelioration of ravaging erosion and floods.
“Climate and nature are intricately linked, so we won’t be able to solve the global loss of nature without solving the climate crisis.
“In turn, when we restore nature, we create healthy ecosystems which locks away more carbon and helps stabilise our climate.
He said the service has stepped up action, and will continue to step up plans, by bringing more actors to the table to save Nigeria from the imminent effects of climate change as well as safeguard the ecosystem.
” We are here to solicit your support in educating the public on the need to promote the service for the health of the Nation.
“Apart from the climate change mitigation, our dream is to turn the seven national parks into a tourism hub, and we want every Nigerian to join hands with the service to make our parks greater in 2020.
“The ongoing revamp at the parks across the country is to improve the quality of services and we will not relent in the efforts to keep improving the fortunes of the parks”.
He said that the service rhave put in a lot of effort to turn around the parks for Ecotourism and also ensure maximum security for our tourists, as well as to preserve and conserve the nation’s natural resources.
Our growing collaboration with you is to advertise Nigeria park to the world which is a key part of our agenda.
Our visit today is to encourage Nigerians to think of contributions they could make that will help mitigate the effect of climate change and to also increase their patronage of our parks.
The present level of commitment and awareness to conservation and preservation of our national heritage are very low so I urge patriotic Nigerians to join hands with the Service in taking our parks to global standards to be able to effectively compete with its counterparts around the world.
“Collective effort remains the panacea for dealing with the menace of climate change.
We must make conscious and concerted effort to safeguard our environment and make it safer and healthier for all.
We must join hands and speak with one voice in order to build the nation of our dream.
Patronising the parks will go a long way to help develop them to acceptable global standards.
We are working to preserve and protect the nation’s natural heritage and the cultural edifices that memorialise them across generations, and if we don’t join hands to preserve them, a lot of them could become extinct.
All our parks have facilities that will make visitors comfortable.
Mrs Fatima Bada, the Executive Director Finance, who represented Alhaji Yakubu Muhammed, the D-G of NTA promised to give the service all the necessary support to achieve its mandate.
” You have come to the right place and your efforts of passing your messages to the public will be supported by us.
She advised the service to work together with the News department to be able to get the maximum benefit