National Parks calls for synergy to improve services

To further preserve and conserve the natural heritage and cultural edifices, the management of National Parks Service (PKS), has reiterated the need for inter governmental synergy.

Conservator-General of the Parks, Ibrahim Goni, who stated at an advocacy visit to the FRSC Corps Marshal, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, in Abuja, said patronage will go a long way to develop the parks to global standards.

He explained, ‘It will also enhance the revenue drive of the parks, thereby, contributing to the country’s economy. We are working to preserve cultural edifices for generations unborn.’
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According to him, National parks enhance ecological processes and life support system such as soil regeneration, protection of nutrient cycles, cleansing and purifying hydrological cycles among others.

‘‘And we have taken steps to eliminate any drawbacks as soon as possible and enforce effectively the respect for ecological, geomorphologic and scientific features,’ he remarked.

He said that since one of the roles of the service was to protect the environment and indigenous genetic resources, it would be upgraded to international standard to enable it to attract more tourists.

“Nigerian go abroad on vacations to visit other countries’ parks this must stop to reduce capital flight. In Kenya, visitors pay 100 dollars to sight animals like gorillas, lions, hippopotamus etc,’’ he stressed.

Responding, FRSC boss, Dr Oyeyemi extolled government for upgrading the National Park Service to a paramilitary category, and welcomed it to the club of paramilitary agencies.

‘‘We believe in inter-agency cooperation and you have taken the right step by going around other paramilitary agencies for discussions and areas of collaboration.

“We have trained about 25 convoys so far. Two agencies would work together on the highway codes because drivers must know signs of animal paths and crosses,” he added.