REPORTER: PEACE AGBO
The Abia State government has directed the state Ministry of Environment to begin the process of identifying a suitable forest reserve for a National Park project in the state.
Governor Alex Otti gave the directive when the management of the National Park Service (NPS), led by the Governing Board Chairman, Dr Kingsley Ononogbu, paid him a visit at his Nvosi, country home.
The Governor stressed the importance of preserving the natural environment despite advances in technology, noting that nature remains an essential part of human existence.
Earlier, the Chairman, Governing Board of NPS, Dr Ononogbu,
pointed out that President Bola Tinubu had approved the recruitment of 1,000 Forest Rangers, stressing that Abia and other South-East states will not benefit from the excerise unless a national park is established in the region.
According to him, the South-East is currently the only geopolitical zone without a national park, describing the situation as “a glaring omission that must be corrected”.
Dr Ononogbu noted that the establishment of a national park in the South East would create employment for the people, boost eco – tourism, and generate revenue.
Also speaking, the Conservator-General of the NPS, Dr Ibrahim Goni, said the visit marked the commencement of the process for the establishment of a National park in Abia State which would be the first in the South-East Zone.
