Reps back Buhari’s order on 10 national parks 

The House of Representatives, on Thursday, concurred with an Executive Order signed by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to designate 10 parks across Nigeria as National Parks.

The Deputy Minority Leader, Toby Okechukwu, however, decried that the country was having more ungoverned spaces where criminals occupied.

Rep member Peter Akpatason had moved the motion for the House to concur with the President in accordance with Section 18 of the National Park Service Act.

The motion was titled ‘Presidential Declaration of National Park Order, 2022.'

The new National Parks declared in the order are Allawa Game Reserve, Niger State; Apoi Forest Reserve, Bayelsa State; Edumenum Reserve, Bayelsa State; Falgore Game Reserve Kano State; Baturiya Wetland game Reserve, Jigawa State; Kampe Forest Reserve, Kwara State; Kogo Forest Reserve, Katsina State; Marhai Forest Reserve, Nasarawa State; Oba Hill Forest Reserve, Osun State; and Pandam Forest Reserve, Plateau State.

Moving the motion, Akpatason said, “The House notes that the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria had, on November 16, 2022 signed a Declaration Order, declaring 10 parks across Nigeria as National Parks. The House also notes that in consonance with the provisions of Section 18 of the National Park Service Act, the President, communicated in writing requesting the concurrence of the House on the 10 new National Parks.”

The section read, “(i) Subject to this Act, the President with the concurrence of the National Assembly, may by order published in the gazette – (a) declare such areas in the Federation as he may deem fit as National Parks which shall be subject to the provisions of the Act; or, (ii) An order made under Subsection (i) of this section shall – (a) set out the situation limits of each National Park; (b) specify the intern management policy for the National Park, and (c) specify the classification of the “National Park.”'

Akpatason prayed the House to “approve the Presidential Declaration Order, 2022, designating 10 named parks with the status of National Parks.”

The Deputy Minority Leader, however, expressed concerns over management of the parks such that they would not eventually become havens of criminals.

Okechukwu said, “For instance, the one in Katsina State – Faskari, we will ask, what is the status of that area of our country? We also know we have the game reserves. The Yankari Game Reserve, for those who know, we have an area that is so widespread like Sambisa.

“I am worried about the status of ungoverned spaces in this country. My take is that the House, in approving the President's request, should do so from a position of knowledge. It is very important that a framework for their management is established. There must have to be a way that we can go home and rest, knowing that these game reserves and national parks are meant for and achieve the purpose and intentions of the government; not that we create them, nobody goes there and they become ungoverned spaces. They will be taken over by terrorists and bandits.”

The Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Wase, who presided over the session, however, faulted Okechukwu, urging the lawmakers to let the motion pass.

Wase argued that the parks would become tourist centres that would generate revenue for the country, adding that they would generate employment as rangers and other workers would be engaged to manage the parks.

The Deputy Speaker put the motion to voice vote and it was unanimously adopted.