Niger State Government, has inaugurated a transition committee to facilitate the handing and taking over of the upgraded Alawa Game Reserve to a National Park.
Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago inaugurated the Committee at the Council chamber of Government House, Minna during the State Executive Council meeting.
The Governor who described the inauguration as historic stressed the importance of conservation and mitigation of the Ecosystem to humans and the environment.
He noted that Niger State is the first sub-national to organise the Green Initiative Summit and also established an Agency to drive the initiative.
The Governor also stated that the State has a University that is handling climate issues located in Mokwa pointing out that issues of climate change or action are pertinent to his administration.
He said though his administration has no intention of letting go the Alawa Game Reserve, he, however, said as a responsible government, his administration would have to go by the decisions of previous administration as government is a continuum.
The farmer Governor also expressed the desire of his administration to take over the Kainji National Park to address the activities of butchers, loggers, and extremists around the Park which he said have become worrisome.
He said he is optimistic that the collaboration with the Federal government to ensure the smooth handling and taking over of the Alawa Game Reserve would bring about increased security of lives and property of the people in the State.
The farmer Governor also assured that the State government will sustain its relationship with the Nigeria National Park Service for more mutual benefits.
He called on the Nigeria National Park Service to liaise with the State Security Committee as it has 10,000 rangers working on the ungoverned spaces to avoid clash in the blue line.
Earlier, the Conservator-General, Nigeria National Park Service, Dr. Ibrahim Musa Goni, in a brief on how Alawa Game Reserve was upgraded to a National Park explained that in 2009, it was resolved in one of the meetings of the National Council of Environment that State Governments should be approached for the taking over of some Forests to increase Forests cover of the Country.
He said by 2013 the then Governor of Niger State approved a letter in that respect from the then Conservator-General of the Nigeria National Park Service leading to an approval of 10 proposed sites across the Country in 2020 by former President Muhammadu Buhari which Alawa Game Reserve was one of them.
The Conservator-General further revealed that all constitutional processes was followed including stakeholders meetings where resolutions were reached that visits should be paid to State Governors of the 10 proposed sites and the inauguration of the transition Committee.
The Committee which is made up of representatives of the State Government, Nigeria National Park Service and the host community has the Director Forestry and Wildlife Service, Niger State, Shariff Labaran Musa, as the Chairman, and Fatima Balarabe of the Nigeria National Park Service as the secretary.
The Chairman promised to ensure a smooth and successful transition and hope for a good collaboration with the host community
He said addressing insecurity in Alawa is one of the many benefits that would be derived from the upgrade of the Alawa Game Reserve to a National Park, as there is an existing collaboration between the Nigeria National Park Service and all the Security apparatus.
Also speaking, the District Head of Alawa, Ibrahim Salihu, who was full of appreciation expressed confidence that with the upgrade of Alawa Game Reserve to a National Park, peace will return to the community in particular and Niger State in general.
