The Conservator General(CG), National Park Service (NPS), Dr Ibrahim Musa Goni has indicated plans by the Service to partner with the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) towards safeguarding the nation’s forest reserve.
In a signed statement by the Director Defence Information, Major General, Benjamin Sawyerr, the
CG disclosed this at the Defence Headquarters, Abuja when he led NPS management staff on a courtesy visit to the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor.
Dr Goni noted that the NPS was established for the purpose of protecting and conserving the biodiversity in designated areas which he identified as national parks, game reserves and forest reserve.
The CG further stated that the collaborative arrangement would be on combat training of NPS personnel and logistic support in order to boost the Agency’s mandate of securing the forest reserves.
“These forest reserves and national parks which are approximately 1,129 square metres have become hideout for bandits and terrorists” he added.
Dr Goni who applauded the AFN for supporting NPS noted that there was need to sustain the existing synergy by working together to tackle the current security challenges facing the nation.
In his response the CDS, Gen Lucky Irabor who was represented by the Chief of Defence Policy and Plans, Air Vice Marshal Dahiru Sanda reiterated the commitment of the AFN in collaborating with the NPS, describing the Service as a key agency in the security architecture of the nation.
He stated that the relevant stakeholders must support the organization towards ensuring that the forests are well protected against criminalities.
The CDS charged NPS on the need to dominate the nation’s forests in terms of intelligence gathering and sharing of information with the military and other security agencies so as to checkmate every form of terror and other crimes.
