The Senate on Tuesday approved the establishment of 10 additional national parks in the country.

This followed the adoption of a motion on the National Park declaration Order 22, sponsored by Gobir Abdullahi (APC-Sokoto) at the plenary.

Presenting the motion, Mr Abdullahi said President Muhammadu Buhari wrote to the Senate on November 16, 2022, requesting the concurrence of the Senate to the National Park declaration Order 2022, in consonance with section 18 of the National Park Service Act 2004.

He said the national park declaration order sought to establish 10 additional national parks based on due feasibility studies and environmental impact assessment in 12 selected forests and game reserves in various states.

Mr Abdullahi listed the parks as Alawa National Park, Niger State; Apoi National Park, Bayelsa State; Edumenun National Park, Bayelsa State; Galgore National Park, Kano State; and Hadejia Wetland National Park, Jigawa State.

Others were Kempe National Park, Kwara State; Kogo National Park, Kastina State; Marhi National Park, Nasarawa State; Oba Hill National Park, Osun State; and Pandam National Park, Plateau state.

He said the additional parks were necessary to regulate Nigeria’s unique ecosystem, particularly the fauna and flora ecosystems.

“The establishment will address the fast rate of disappearance and degradation of Nigeria’s forest, achieve and develop adequate tourism infrastructure in line with international best practices,” he said.

He said the establishments would help protect and preserve Nigeria’s biodiversity and natural heritage.

Mr Abdullahi said section 18 of the National Park Service Act 2004 as amended provided for the concurrent of the National Assembly.

(NAN)