The conservator-general of the National Park Service, Ibrahim Goni, says the federal government will take over 10 new parks between November and December 2023.

Mr Goni disclosed this while receiving the nine commissioners from the 10 new national parks on Wednesday in Abuja.

He said the parks could be handed over to the federal government between November and December so that by 2024, they would be included in the national budget.

“At the moment, the approved national parks are being gazetted by the Federal Ministry of Justice,” he stated. “With the gazetting, it means they have now become full-fledged national parks; we are waiting for the parks to be handed over by the respective state governors to the federal government as national parks.’’

The conservator-general said the meeting was to update the stakeholders on the progress made so far on the takeover of the 10 new national parks by the federal government.

“We have held two stakeholder meetings before this time where we discussed the presidential proclamation and the concurrence of the National Assembly,” said Mr Goni.

He added, “Most of the states have told us that they have acquired office accommodations, administrative offices, and accommodations for the officers of the parks for the smooth take-off of the 10 new parks in their respective states.”

Mr Goni explained, “And they have also assured us of the corporation of the communities where these parks are domiciled.”

Mr Goni said the people of the communities had expressed their willingness to support the smooth take-off of the parks. He expressed optimism that the gesture would develop their areas and provide employment opportunities.

Mr Goni listed other benefits to the host communities, such as security, mitigation of climate change, and regeneration, which would take place to truncate rural migration.

Nura Kazaure, Commissioner for Environment in Jigawa, lauded the federal government’s gesture. He expressed optimism that all the areas where the parks were situated would experience transformation.

The commissioner said the state had the challenge of illegally felling trees and forest encroachment.

“We can easily tackle this with the cooperation of the community, traditional rulers, religious leaders, and the youths around,’’ he said.

He expressed optimism that there would be a seamless handover between the state and the federal government.

(NAN)