National Park Service Deploys 42 Rangers To Taraba, Adamawa

An additional 42 volunteer community rangers have been deployed to safeguard the Gashaka Gumti National Park in Gashaka and Toungo Local Government Areas of Taraba and Adamawa states.   Disclosing this yesterday, the Conservator-General of the National Park Service, Ibrahim Goni, said the programme was initiated to address workforce shortages caused by retirements and other losses, as part of a renewed effort to enhance security and preserve Nigeria’s largest and most diverse conservation area.

“By recruiting dedicated youths from host communities, we are not only strengthening park protection but also fostering a sense of shared ownership,” he said.

Represented by George Kagon, Goni stated that the rangers underwent comprehensive training in patrol tactics, wildlife tracking, GPS usage, operational planning, and legal procedures, equipping them for the demands of the field while reaffirming the agency’s commitment to partnerships that promote biodiversity conservation and sustainable livelihoods across Nigeria.

Goni expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, for their support, as well as the governors of Taraba and Adamawa states, Agbu Kefas and Ahmadu Fintiri, for providing an enabling environment for the national park located in both states.

Speaking at the passing-out ceremony of the rangers on Tuesday in Serti, headquarters of Gashaka Local Government Area, the Country Manager of the Africa Nature Investors Foundation, Nacha Geoffrey, described the park as a vital ecological asset and a key watershed for the Benue River, which supports millions of Nigerians.

He noted that the initiative represents a major step toward reversing environmental degradation and insecurity in the region, adding that the newly recruited rangers were more than employees.

“They are frontline guardians of this vast wilderness and a bridge between conservation authorities and host communities,” he said.

Traditional rulers from Gashaka, the Mambilla Plateau in Taraba State and Ganye in Adamawa State, who were present, commended the initiative, noting that improved security has already enabled displaced farmers to return to their communities.

According to the Lamdo Gashaka, Alhaji Zuberu Hammagbdo, the entire area has benefited significantly from ANI’s interventions, particularly in education, women’s empowerment and youth development.