The governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has announced his intention to partner with the federal government on the management of the Okomu National Park, to restore the park and enhance security in the area.
Obaseki made this known on Thursday when he met with the Conservator of the Okomu National Park, Mr. Augustine Obekpa, during his visit to the park in Udo Community, Ovia South-West Local Government Area of the state.
The governor also revealed plans to send a forestry bill to the Edo State House of Assembly for approval to strengthen efforts at preserving the state’s forest reserves.
He said, “We are going to send a forestry bill to the Edo State House of Assembly for approval next week. We will ensure that we broaden the law beyond forestry assets to also include the natural assets around the forest.
“We want to work with the National Park Service. I will visit the Minister of Environment to present her a proposal to allow the Edo State Government to jointly manage the park with the federal government because this is our resource.”
Obaseki added: “With that partnership, it means that we would invest more resources. We would like to increase the number of rangers and park officers to protect not only this park but some other reserves around us, such as the Okumo Reserve and the Gelegele Reserve.
“We will pay for the new recruits under such an arrangement. We will improve your training, as well as provide more facilities and amenities for the park.
“Nobody will come here if they don’t feel safe and secure. This applies not only to the park and the resources in this area, but it is also important for people to feel secure when they come to enjoy nature.”
“We will ensure that we improve the security of this park and showcase the beauty and ecotourism opportunities of the park,” he said.
Obaseki further said, “We have been hearing of criminal activities of some elements, both in the park and the forest reserve, and also the Okomu Oil Palm Company. Today, we are on a fact finding mission to examine what exactly is happening in the park.
“We have to find out the number of attacks, where the attacks are coming from and see how the state government can come in and collaborate effectively with the park using the full security system in the state to address the security challenges that we have here.
“Government will not just sit back and watch the kind of criminality that we are seeing in this area. Our concern is that if we don’t confront them now, it will get out of control.
“We are expecting to get the full report from you and to understand clearly how the criminals are operating. We saw a truck outside the premises which I believe was recently seized with high quality wood.”
“You know how costly these items are. Our worry is that these criminals come in, log illegally and take the logs out, sell them and buy more arms and come in to take over the territory,” Obaseki said.
In his response, the Conservator of the Okomu National Park said the park is home to white-throated monkeys, buffalo and elephants, and that farming, hunting and illegal logging was affecting the natural habitats of the animals.
Obekpa appealed to the governor for logistics support to enable them to effectively protect the forest assets.
