The European Union (EU) has earmarked 3.5 million Euro to spend in conservation and development of ecotourism in Gashaka Gumti National park in Serti, Taraba State.
This was disclosed on Wednesday (8/5/24) by the Head of the Human Development Department of the Union in Abuja, professor Laila b during a meeting with the Conservator – general (CG), National Park Service, Dr. Ibrahim Musa Goni in the union Office in Abuja.
Professor Laila added that the fund which was sourced from regional programme of the Union called ” Nature Africa” was specially designed by the Union for identification of ways to protect landscapes/forest systems management in West Africa. She also confirmed that the union will use the 3.5 million Euro through Africa Nature Investors (ANI) and has already asked ANI to design the project plan of the intervention.
laila has earlier mentioned by the programme manager of her department, Mr. Temitayo Omole said that this meeting was organized by the manager and the CG for the union to brief the National Park Service of its plan to develop new areas of intervention that may respond to the need of the service in Gashaka National Park and the new Parks. She added that, as complementary measure, the Union is also looking at extending the intervention from the fund to the support zone Communities of the Park and this, according to her, is because of the negative impact of climate change and farmers/harders’ conflict in the Communities. Laila also recalled that during the recent visit of Union’s delegation to the honourable minister for Environment, Balarabe Abbas, the Minister also requested for special intervention of Union in new Parks and others to address insecurity and illicit/wildlife crime activities.
In his response, the CG thanked and conveyed the appreciation of his Minister, Alhaji Balarabe Abbas to the Union for Union’s 2 million Euro intervention in Cross River National Park/ its Support Zone communities and also the Union’s Intention to extend the intervention to Gashaka Gumti National Park and the new Parks. The CG said his minister briefed him on the development and directed him to arrange for this follow up meeting to make an input on the arrangement.
The CG briefed Professor Laila on the establishment of old and the new National Parks in Nigeria, their locations, resources, operations, achievements, challenges and areas for special interventions to enable them achieve their respective goals for establishment. Hence, Laila requested the CG to submit a comprehensive report of the needs of the old and new Parks for her Department and ANI to look at the possible incorporate into the intervention plan. Laila also extended the Union’s invitation to the CG to attend the EU Day on 9th May, 2024 which will, according to her, avail the CG the opportunity to meet with the EU member-ambassadors and further discuss issues of interventions for Nigerian Parks and their Support Zone Communities.
The meeting ended with exchange of pleasantries, publicity materials and group photograph.