The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, has instructed rangers to intensify their crackdown on poachers and illegal miners in Gashaka Gumti National Park, located in Serti, Taraba State. Lawal issued this directive on Wednesday during the commissioning of a new ranger outpost in the park’s northern sector, situated in Tungo Local Government Area of Adamawa State.
Lawal highlighted Nigeria’s challenges in conserving its rich biodiversity, but expressed optimism that the new outpost would strengthen conservation efforts and allow for swift responses to threats within the park. He noted that the park faces significant issues, including poaching, habitat destruction, climate change, and rising insecurity from insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, and illegal mining.
The minister commended African Nature Investors (ANI) for partnering with the National Park Service (NPS) to establish the outpost, which will accommodate over 50 rangers. “The collaboration between NPS and ANI in managing these national parks will greatly help mitigate these challenges and safeguard our wildlife, biodiversity, and ecosystems,” he said.
Representing Lawal at the event, Conservator-General of Parks, Ibrahim Goni, affirmed that these efforts would complement the federal government’s conservation initiatives. He emphasised that this partnership signifies a strong alliance committed to ensuring the parks serve as safe havens for wildlife, support ecotourism, and offer livelihoods for local communities.
Executive Director of Gashaka Gumti National Park, Tunde Morakinyo, also addressed illegal mining as a major issue affecting the park. He expressed optimism that the new outpost would bolster ranger operations to combat illegal mining in the protected areas. Morakinyo urged the federal government to take immediate steps to shut down illegal mining sites in the region, citing the link between illegal mining and rising criminal activities. He stressed that collaboration is essential to effectively address these challenges, which have become more urgent than ever. Last week, a tragic incident underscored the dangers of illegal mining, as 22 miners lost their lives in a collapsed mining pit in the area.
