The National Assembly has approved the creation of ten new National Parks by the federal government.
President Muhammadu Buhari in a letter to the upper and lower chambers of the national assembly had made the request for the creation of additional National Parks in the country.
On Thursday, the House of Representatives approved the request of the president on the execution of the National Park (Declaration) Order, 2022 which seeks to establish 10 additional National Parks in 12 selected forests and game reserves in various states of the federation.
They include Alawa National Park (Niger), Apoi National Park (Bayelsa), Edumenun National Park (Bayelsa), Galgore National Park (Kano), Hadeija Wetland National Park (Jigawa), Kempe National Park (Kwara), Kogo National Park (Katsina), Marhi National Park (Nassarawa), Oba Hill National Park (Osun) and Pandam National Park (Plateau).
According to the president, the Parks are necessary for the regulation of the use of Nigeria’s ecosystem, to protect and preserve biodiversity, and develop adequate tourism infrastructure in line with international best practices.
He noted that the National Park (Declaration) Order is in line with section 18 of the National Park Service Act, 2006 which states that:
“ (1) Subject to this Act, the President with the concurrence of the National Assembly, may by order published in the Gazette: a) declare such areas in the Federation as he may deem fit as National Parks which shall be subject to the provisions of this Act; or (b) alter the boundaries of an existing National Park”.
“(2) An order made under subsection (I) of this section shall: (a) set out the situation and limits of each National Park; (b) specify the interim management policy for the National Park; and (c) specify the classification of the National Park.”
It would be recalled that the upper chamber approved the same request at its plenary session of Tuesday, 28 March 2023.
