513 species in Nigeria’s Game Reserves risk  extinction, says Goni, as World observes Wildlife Day 2022

Daniel Dauda, Jos

The conservator-general, National park service of Nigeria Dr. Ibrahim Goni have stated that about 513 species in Nigeria game reserves is at the verge of extinction.

Goni hinted this Thursday at the serene environment of Jos wildlife park during the 2022 world wildlife day celebration.

The DG who was represented by  Oladipo Ojo said the world population is estimated to be around 7 billion people. Human beings all over the world rely on wildlife and biodiversity-based resources to meet all their needs from food, medicine and health to fuel, housing and clothing.

He bemoaned that Our actions have put humanity into deep environmental crisis. We have destroyed, degraded and polluted earth’s natural habitats.

He said “according to data from the international Union for conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list of threatened species 2018, over 8,400 species of wildlife fauna and flora are critically endangered while close to 30,000 more are understood to be endangered or vulnerable.

“Based on these estimates, it is suggested that over a million species are threatened with extinction the world over. According to the report, about 513 species are at risk in Nigeria as endangered species.”

The Governor of Plateau State Simon Lalong revealed that he has reposition tourism sector making it to be the number three pillar policy thrust of the rescue administration.

Lalong who was represented by the Commissioner of Tourism, Hon. Tamwukat Weli said Government would not longer tolerate encroachment of Jos wildlife park as a result illegal mining activities.

She assured to inject resources to make the park a world class as on behalf of Plateau Government appreciate President Muhammadu Buhari for adopting Pandam wildlife park to be a national game reserve.

Speaking on the theme: “recovering key species for ecosystem” the keynote speaker professor Lami Lombin pointed out that wildlife park in Nigeria has all been extinct. Where have all the animals gone to?

Prof. Lombin who is a Dean faculty of veterinary medicine university of Jos explain that animals live in the ecosystem and the ecosystem composed of biotic and abiotic environment.

She said, ” the ecosystem is affected by diseases due to negligence and unwarranted human activities such as; clearing and burning of bush for farming, making the environment unbearable for animals to coexist.

“We must take deliberate action towards reversing the fate of key species of animals and plants in Nigeria by embracing tree planting programme, aggressive consultation and public awareness and Government should review National park laws in order to deal with offenders appropriately”, she mentioned.

Earlier, the General Manager, Plateau State Tourism corporation, Salome Bidda acknowledged that the world wildlife day celebration is set aside to draw global attention and create greater public awareness on the importance to protect endangered species of plants and animals and the negative effects it has on the society such as destruction of biodiversity resulting to global warming.

The GM call on the Government and private entities to contribute immensely for the development of tourism sector, noting that ” Plateau is ours, the future belongs to us all, developing the sector is therefore our collective responsibility to this generation and generations yet unborn.”