By Stephen Ojo
The Federal Government has taken over the Alawa Game Reserve located in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State after upgrading it to a National Park.
The game reserve , it was learnt has been ungoverned area inhabited by terrorists in recent years.
The state Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago on Monday inaugurated a transition committee to hand over the game reserve to the federal government at government house Minna.
He said, ” I am optimistic that our collaboration with the Federal government in ensuring smooth handling and taking over of the Alawa Game Reserve would bring about increased security of lives and property of the people in the state”.
He called on the Nigeria National Park Service to liaise with the State Security Committee as it has 10,000 rangers working on the ungoverned spaces to avoid clash in the blue line.
He expressed concern over the activities of butchers, loggers, and extremists around the Kainji National Park stressing the need to address the issue
The farmer Governor described the inauguration of the committee as historic, stressing the importance of conservation and mitigation of the Ecosystem to humans and the environment.
Speaking earlier, the Conservator-General, Nigeria National Park Service, Dr. Ibrahim Musa Goni, explained that Alawa Game Reserve has been upgraded to a National Park.
The Committee is made up of representatives of the State Government, Nigeria National Park Service and the host community while the Director Forestry and Wildlife Service, Niger State, Shariff Labaran Musa, will serve as the Chairman, and Fatima Balarabe of the Nigeria National Park Service as the secretary.