FG Approves Establishment Of 10 National Parks

The Federal Government (FG), on Thursday, approved the establishment of 10 additional national parks.

Minister of Environment, Mohammad Abubakar, announced this during a press briefing in Abuja.

He said the establishment of the 10 parks would bring the country’s total to 17, adding that an executive bill would be sent to the National Assembly to the effect.

“The President has graciously approved the establishment of 10 additional national parks bringing the total number of the national parks in the country to 17.

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“To give credence and legal backing to this worthy cause, an executive bill will soon be presented to the National Assembly for further necessary action,” Abubakar said.

He further said that the first national park in Nigeria, Kanji Lake, was established by FG in 1979.

This, he said, was followed by six others spread across the country.

Abubakar said: “The creation of additional national parks in Nigeria has become imperative in view of the prevailing effects of climate change across the globe.”

“This action is geared towards the United Nation’s policy of placing 25 per cent of its member countries’ landmass under permanent vegetation cover for carbon sequestration to mitigate the effects of climate change and ameliorate other ecological challenges,” he added.