Insecurity: ‘FG Must Take Over All Forests’- Conservator …Says Forests Are Safe Haven For Bandits

Olabode Adaramola

An urgent call has been made to the federal government , to without further delay take charge of all thick forests in parts of the country if the nation  must put an  end to insecurity challenges bedeviling  the country.

Making the call over the weekend, was the Conservator of Parks, Kainji Lake National Park, Mr. Jimoh Bolanle Oladosu when he paid a courtesy  visit to  the 31 Artillery Brigade of Nigerian Army,  in Minna, Niger State capital.

Oladosu said “but for the federal government’s proactive measures in setting up a joint task force of the military, National Parks Service (NPS) and local vigilantes, bandits would have taken over the Kainji Lake National Parks in Borgu Local Government Area of the State.

According to him “if the forests are not manned and taken over by the government, it is going to constitute a very big security threat to the country. Any forest that is not manned now is going to constitute big danger that may consume us.

“If the federal government takes over the forests and they are manned, apart from harnessing the resources therein, no miscreants, kidnappers or bandits can enter the place to perpetrate their nefarious activities. The forest is where the hoodlums and miscreants use as their safe haven and hideouts.

“It is better we take proactive/preventive measures now than to start spending huge sums of money on curative. A lot of our forests have been degraded. Niger state for instance has a lot of forests that are very rich in bio-diversity and if they can be manned, protected and preserved, they will be highly beneficial to the people of the state in particular and the country at large.

“If Niger cannot manned its forests, they can give them to the federal government to convert them into National Parks especially the Allawa game reserve and forests. It is a very hot spot of bio-diversity,” said .

The Conservator while calling for proper attention on forests in the country,  noted  that the Kainji Lake National Parks in New Bussa, Borgu LGA of Niger State is the safest in the country, stressing that “there is the  need for us to protect our natural resources and we also need to be futuristic because one day the oil will loose value.”

Earlier in  his remarks, the Commander, 31 Artillery Brigade, Nigerian Army, Minna, Brig.  Gen.  Gideon Ajetunmobi said the National Parks Service should not be looked down upon, saying,  “they are very important to the country.

He stated further  that the visit will further establish a robust relationship between the Army and the National Parks, adding that they were quite important to the country because they provide safe homes for animals, plants and even humans.

“We must ensure nature is preserved so that we can generate revenue from tourism in Nigeria and it can help hotel businesses, flight boom and will be able to project our culture when tourists start visiting,” he stated.

Meanwhile, the Conservator also visited the Nigerian Correctional Service, Nigerian Television Authority, the State’s Police Command, Federal Road Safety Corps, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps and Traditional leaders in Minna.