By Chuks Oyema-Aziken
The Conservator-General (CG) of the National Park Service, Dr. Ibrahim Musa Goni, has been commended for community-driven efforts in protected area management in Nigeria, particularly at Gashaka Gumti National Park.
The Executive Chairman of Serti-Baruwa Local Government Area of Taraba State, Honourable Umar Yusuf Allura Gari gave the commendation in a letter to Dr. Goni.
The Chairman on behalf of his people also commended the Conservator-General for appointing Deputy Conservator of Park (DCP) Jonah Moses, an indigene of the local government, as acting Conservator of Park for Hadejia Wetlands National Park.
Honourable Umar Gari further commended Dr. Goni for the transformative initiatives at Gashaka Gumti National Park under his leadership. These initiatives, according to him, led to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Africa Nature Investors (ANI), which has enhanced the protection of the park, improved internal security, and positively impacted the lives of the local populace through various impactful interventions.
Dr. Goni’s relentless efforts to reposition the Service locally and internationally through strategic collaborations were credited for the park’s recent enlistment as a World Heritage Site by World Heritage Volunteers.
The Chairman expressed gratitude to the CG for honoring their late traditional leader, Lamdo of Gashaka, Alhaji (Dr) Hamman Gabdo Mohammed Sambo, by naming the Administrative Block of Gashaka Gumti National Park after him. This gesture, he said, will continue to endear the park and the entire Service to the Gashaka people.
The Executive Chairman acknowledged the CG’s consistent efforts in providing job opportunities to their youths, stating that they are indeed grateful for that. However, he appealed for more employment opportunities, especially in senior cadres, stressing that such gestures will bolster community involvement in the smooth running and management of conflicts with the Service.
Meanwhile, the Executive Chairman has assured the CG of his community’s unwavering support for the National Park Service’s efforts to achieve international standards in conservation and sustainable management of Nigerian parks.
