The Federal Government is set to take control of ten new parks, with the handover expected to occur between November and December 2023.
The Conservator-General of the National Park Service, Dr. Ibrahim Goni made this revelation while welcoming nine commissioners representing the ten new national parks during a meeting in Abuja on Wednesday.
He emphasized that the parks are slated to be handed over to the Federal Government within the mentioned timeframe, enabling their inclusion in the national budget for the year 2024.
Goni also highlighted that the national parks have received approval and are currently in the process of being gazetted by the Federal Ministry of Justice. Once gazetted, they will officially become fully recognized national parks.
The final step involves the transfer of these parks from the respective state governors to the Federal Government.
The purpose of the meeting was to provide stakeholders with an update on the progress of this transfer process. Goni mentioned that prior to this meeting, there had been two stakeholder gatherings where discussions covered the presidential proclamation and the endorsement of the National Assembly.
In preparation for the handover, most states have already secured office accommodations, administrative offices, and accommodations for park personnel to ensure the seamless establishment of the new parks.
The communities where these parks are located have shown cooperation and willingness to support their smooth operation.
Goni expressed his optimism that this initiative would bring significant benefits to the host communities, including job opportunities, enhanced security, climate change mitigation, and the prevention of rural migration.