Minister Urges Stronger Collaboration to Protect Gashaka Gumti National Park
From Gov Sylvanus Viashima, Jalingo
The Minister of Environment, Alhaji Balarabe Abbas Lawal, on Wednesday, called for renewed collaboration, strict environmental protection and sustained security efforts to safeguard Nigeria’s largest national park, Gashaka Gumti National Park, and other protected areas across the country.
He made the call at the 7th stakeholders’ meeting of the Southern Sector of the Gashaka Gumti National Park organised by the Africa Nature Investors Foundation, in Serti, Gashaka Local Government, Taraba State.
The minister who describes the gathering as a demonstration of collective commitment to the future of the park and the nation, recalled that the National Park Service signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Africa Nature Investors Foundation in 2017 to provide financial and technical support to complement federal government efforts, and commended the partnership, saying it has “significantly improved conditions within the park and enhanced the livelihoods of surrounding support-zone communities”.
He urge all stakeholders to continue supporting both the National Park Service and Africa Nature Investors Foundation to further strengthen conservation outcomes, and noted that Gashaka Gumti National Park is not only the largest park in Nigeria but also one of the richest in biodiversity, providing critical ecosystem services such as wildlife protection, watershed conservation, preservation of archaeological and historical sites, traditional medicine, ecological tourism, education, employment opportunities and regional security.
He expressed concern that illegal activities including poaching, grazing, mining, farming and river poisoning continue to undermine conservation efforts by the Federal Government and its partners while stating that the meeting was convened to address the challenges and chart a sustainable path for effective park management and community welfare.
In his remarks, the Conservator-General of the National Park Service, Dr. Ibrahim Musa Goni, described Gashaka Gumti National Park as Nigeria’s most diverse protected area, surrounded by about 55 support-zone communities and six enclave communities.
According to Goni, this complex human–environment relationship makes stakeholder engagement essential for effective park management, while noting that the meeting was convened to deliberate on key challenges affecting the park, including general security, dry-season grazing, illegal settlements, illegal mining and other unlawful activities.
The CG call for dialogue, mutual understanding and respect for the rule of law while praising ANI Foundation for its timely intervention and support in infrastructure development, security, community engagement, communications, technology, research, education and livelihood empowerment.
Dr. Goni said the collaboration with ANI, alongside other traditional institutions and security agencies, has greatly improved the security and wellbeing of communities in and around the park, stressing that the meeting was not about assigning blame but about identifying solutions and opportunities for sustainable conservation.
In his keynote address, titled “Balancing Heritage and Preservation,” a retired Federal High Court judge, Justice Ibrahim Buba, described Gashaka Gumti National Park as “the lungs of the region and the inheritance of future generations,” stressing that its protection must be approached with both legal clarity and human sensitivity.
ByDr. George Okeyoyin, ANI Foundation’s Senior Strategic Adviser, said the session was part of ANI’s continuous engagement which brings pastoralists, farmers and other stakeholders together to foster greater understanding and cooperation.
According to him, initiatives by ANI Foundation such as the ongoing vaccination of cattle in communities around the park, provision of livelihood support for women, creation of several hugely impactful saving and loan groups for women and youths, among others, boost productivity and increase conservation awareness for surrounding communities.
