The African Nature Investors (ANI), yesterday, called on the federal government to wade into the activities of illegal miners around the northern part of Gashaka-Gumti National Park, which is located in Taraba and Adamawa states.
Mr Tunde Morakinyo, the executive director of the organisation, disclosed this during the commissioning of the National Rangers Outpost Park in Toungo local government area of Adamawa State.
He said the illegal miners were operating a few metres away from the park, noting that their activities pose a criminal threat, not just to the park but to entire communities housing the national park.
He expressed worry that the miners’ activities, if not tackled, may hamper ANI’s core aim of projecting the Park as an African tourist centre.
According to the executive director, ANI was poised to develop Africa’s natural resources, tapping into the federal government’s ideas of establishing national parks across Nigeria to attract tourism in 1991.
“The ideas 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 keyed in to partner on how to develop the parks to become an African tourist centre.
“However, the Gashaka-Gumti National Park, which wishes to become a magnet of development in Nigeria, is facing threats like illegal mining, lodging, farm encroachment, and cattle grazing.
“As you may know, illegal mining comes with criminality. Criminals come in the name of mining and perpetrate crime. We wish to appeal to both state and federal governments to close down the mining site to avoid the impending danger of insecurity.
“The Gashaka-Gumti National Park has been a peaceful Park in Nigeria, and we want it to remain so.
“The idea behind establishing 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 were no permanent rangers in the area. As promoters of the national park, we entered into a partnership and agreed to build the Gumti outpost.
“The outpost houses over 50 rangers and support staff permanently in the north of the park. It has 24 hours of electricity, water all year round, and 24 hours of internet service. We are making sure that the park attracts development in Nigeria,” the executive director said.
Meanwhile, the minister of environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, thanked ANI Foundation for the tourist attraction initiative.
The minister, represented by Ibrahim Goni, the conservator general of Gashaka-Gumti National Park, assured the federal government of its support since the initiative was targeted at growing 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 outcomes.
“The partnership is to provide technical and financial support for the Services of Gashaka Gumti National Park with a view to enhancing park protection, policing and management.” The minister noted.
