Nigeria’s House of Representatives on Thursday, March 30, 2023, approved President Muhammadu Buhari’s request for the establishment of 10 new National Parks.
This is sequel to the adoption of a motion by Rep. Ado Doguwa, the Majority Leader of the House of Reps, at the plenary in Abuja.
The upper chamber of the assembly had earlier approved the request for the parks on Tuesday, March 28.
Doguwa said Buhari had, on Nov. 16, 2022, signed a declaration order for 10 parks across Nigeria as national parks.
He said in consonance with the provisions of Section 18 of the National Park Service Act, the President, in writing requested the concurrence of the House on 10 New National Parks.
“Subject to this Act, the President with the concurrence of the National Assembly will publish in the gazette, declaring such areas in the federation as national parks,’’ he said.
This, according to him, shall be subject to the provisions of the Act; or, an order made under Subsection (i) of this section shall set out the situation limits of each National Park.
He added that it specifies the intern management policy for the National Park, and specifies the classification of the National Park.
He said: “Aware that the declaration Order, 2022 set out; the declaration of new National Parks; name, situation and limits of the new National Park; and constitution of the National Parks Management Committee.”
The 10 new National Parks declared in the Order are: Allawa Game Reserve, Niger State; Apoi Forest Reserve, Bayelsa State; and Edumenum Reserve, Bayelsa State.
Others include: Falgore Game Reserve, Kano State, Baturiya Wetland Game Reserve, Jigawa State; Kampe Forest Reserve, Kwara State; Kogo Forest Reserve, Katsina State; and Marhai Forest Reserve, Nasarawa State.
Also in the lists are Oba Hill Forest Reserve, Osun State; and Pandam Forest Reserve, Plateau State.
By Femi Ogunshola
