The Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari has Accepted the upgrading of the Marhai Forest Reserve, in the Wamba Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, to a National park. Conservator-General and Chief Executive Officer, National Park Services, NPS, Ibrahim Goni, revealed this while on a courtesy call on the Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, in the Government House, in Lafia that the State Capital.
Goni further revealed that President Buhari declared the upgrading of another 9 forest reserves throughout the nation, from the 23 earlier requested.”
I’m visiting Your Excellency, to convey to you, the President’s acceptance for the upgrading of this Marhai forest book to some national park,” he stated.
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Based on Goni, in 2013, the Nasarawa State government, along with other 22 states, asked for the upgrading of this Marhai forest reserve, following which President Buhari approved the upgrading of ten forest reserves throughout the nation.
Directive
The Conservator-General explained that “the approval came with a presidential directive for the National Park Services to participate the benefiting states, to set up modalities for the smooth handing and take over of the new federal parks.”
Goni equally asked for the immediate setting up of a deadline, involving representatives from the State Government, to fine-tune modalities for the handing over of the Marhai Forest Reserve into the NPS.
The Governor said; “Since its beginning, his government was encouraging the Farin Ruwa tourism potentials, with the State government constructing the 15-km Sisin Baki/ Farin Ruwa road to open the region.”
Governor Sule equally appreciated the NPS because of its recommendations and for recognising these hidden resources belonging to the nation.
“Since this government came in, we have been doing everything possible to promote that park…We have invited many personalities, including a delegation headed by the Minister of Information, Tourism, and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, to come along and project the park,”
The Governor noted. Governor Sule was optimistic that its transformation into a national park, the Marhai Forest Reserve, will certainly lead to additional national parks in the nation due to its natural endowment, particularly attracting tourists. He expressed confidence that at the end of the day, host communities bordering the park, would be beneficial in terms of employment, among others.
