FG To Acquire More Arms For National Parks Operations – Minister

Malam Balarabe Lawal, the Minister of Environment, says the Federal Government plans to acquire additional weapons to ensure the National Park Service (NPS) runs efficiently.

The Minister disclosed this on Thursday when he paid an official visit to the headquarters of NPS and the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) in Abuja.

Lawal said President Bola Tinubu was very concerned about the operations of the parks because of the spate on insecurity in the country.

The Minister disclosed that there is an ongoing collaboration with relevant agencies to clean the forest of bandits, illegal miners, and the coastal areas where oil thefts take place.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NPS is statutorily responsible for the preservation, enhancement, and protection of wild animals, plants, and other vegetation in national parks and matters connected therewith.

The Minister charged the NBMA to be more proactive in its approaches and to engage more in research to curb the inflow of unwanted genetically modified foods.

“If you allow these genetically modified foods to come into the markets, there will be a very fierce war,” he said.

He commended the two agencies for their efforts and urged them to do more to keep up with their mandates.

Lawal further tasked the agencies with teamwork, dedication, and punctuality to duty at all times for the effective discharge of their duties.

Earlier, Dr Ibrahim Goni, Conservator-General of NPS, appealed to the minister for an upward review of their subvention.

Goni also requested the procurement of more arms to curb trans-banditry activities with Cameroon, as well as the commercialization of three parks.

On her part, Dr Agnes Asagbra, the Director-General of NBMA, appealed for the provision of bigger office space and more training for the staff of the agency.

She also requested machinery to fight environmental activities impeding the operations of the agency.

NAN reports that both agencies made elaborate presentations of their operations to the Minister.

They also led the Minister on a tour of the NPS animal orphanage, mini-park, museum, and NBMA laboratory before he planted a tree to mark the visit.

(NAN)