Monarch tasks journalists on destination

Given the much-needed attention, the tourism sector would not only catapult Nigeria to great height, but would reduced over-concentration and dependence on oil and gas as major source of revenue for the country.

This was the view of Gashaka, Alhaji Zubairu Hammangabdo Muhammadu Sambo III, while playing host to the leadership of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) recently in his palace in Taraba State.

Stressing the need to hold tenaciously to the diversification policy of President Muhammadu Buhari, the monarch noted that journalists ought to go the extra mile to expose the Gashaka Gumti National Park to the world.

He explained that the tourism potentials of the park, if adequately exposed to the world, would go a long way to address the issue of Nigeria’s dependence on oil, adding that tourism is one of the direction the country should go.

The emir, who disclosed that the park is the largest in Nigeria and West Africa, said it houses the largest population fauna and flora, as well as home of biodiversity.

Certain that tourism would ignite the much need growth in the country, as well as redeemed it’s much battered image, the park according to him houses the highest peak in country called Chabbal Wade (the mountain of death). He noted that the mountain stands at 2400 metres above sea level.

The first class traditional ruler observed that the abandoning of other vital sectors of the economy after the discovering of oil in the 1970s has also taken its toll on the tourism sub-sector.

“The earlier Nigeria returns to these abandoned sectors such as tourism and agriculture the better for the country,” he said. Urging both Taraba State and Federal Government to provide the enabling environment for the growth of tourism, the monarch told the visiting journalists to be at the forefront of highlighting and promoting tourism potentials in the country.

On her own part, the state chairperson of NAWOJ, Mrs. Victoria Roland, said the group is in Gashaka to explore the potentials of the Gashaka Gumti National Park with a view to finding out the best approach to attract attention to the sector..