Monarchs in Taraba commends Nature Foundation for improved security in Nigeria's largest park

 

From Godwin Agia, Jalingo

The Lamdo Gashaka, Alhaji Hamman Gabdo Sambo, and the Third-Class Chief of Mayo-Salbe, Alhaji Yerma Thomas, in Taraba State, have commended the Africa Nature Investors (ANI) Foundation for their efforts in enhancing security and conservation at the Nigeria's largest park  Gashaka Gumti.

The monarchs expressed their appreciation during a media tour organized by the Africa Nature Investors Foundation at Gashaka Gumti National Park on Tuesday.

They described the foundation’s partnership with the park as crucial in restoring law and order within and around the park. The chiefs emphasized that the foundation's efforts have significantly improved security and conservation in the area.

Speaking during the tour, the Chief of Gashaka, Alhaji Zubairu Hamman Gabdo Sambo, highlighted how the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between ANI and the Gashaka Gumti National Park Service in 2021 transformed the security situation in Gashaka Local Government Area.

He also noted that the foundation’s activities have provided valuable training opportunities for residents, enhancing the economy of the state. This training includes skills such as tailoring, rice milling, and community park ranger programs, as well as savings and loan schemes.

“Africa Nature Investors is doing a great job in the development of Gashaka Gumti National Park,” he said. “Since they signed an agreement with the National Park Service in 2021, we’ve witnessed numerous contributions, including the donation of helicopters, firearms, and the training of park rangers.”

“I must commend the foundation for training community park rangers to prevent poaching and unauthorized entry into the park, especially by pastoralists and hunters who previously entered without control. Thanks to ANI, security in the park has greatly improved.”

He further assured, “We no longer experience cases of kidnapping, armed banditry, or illegal mining in the park.”

The Chief also highlighted the positive impact ANI has had on the local youth and women, stating, "Since 2021, ANI has been training and providing starter packs such as rice milling machines, sewing machines, and maize milling machines to boost food production in our community.”

Similarly, the Third-Class Chief of Mayo-Salbe, Yerima Thomas, expressed gratitude to the foundation for its efforts in wildlife conservation and empowering the local population.

“We won’t allow the continued destruction of our ecology. Many kidnappers have previously threatened the park, but ANI has helped curb these activities by employing our youths to safeguard the park,” he said.

During the media tour, the Community Liaison Officer of the ANI Foundation, Mr David Peter, emphasized the importance of conserving wildlife in the park and called on other NGOs to partner with the National Park Service to attract both national and international tourists.

Why certain animals have disappeared from Gashaka Gumpti National Park- Conservator

From Godwin Agia, Jalingo 

The Conservator of Parks at Gashaka Gumpti National Park in Taraba State, Joseph Ntui on Saturday said lions, hippos, and cheetahs are feared to be locally extinct, as they haven't been sighted for several years due to human activities.

Ntui made this known during a media tour of the park organized by Africa Nature Investors (ANI), a non-governmental organization focused on conservation and climate change mitigation.

According to Ntui, Gashaka Gumpti national park remains Nigeria’s largest, most scenic, and biodiverse national park, home to a wide variety of birds, fish, butterflies, mammals, plants, and other unique species. 

This biodiversity according to the conservator makes the park a living laboratory for research and experimentation. 

He however, said the apparent disappearance of certain wildlife may be due to poaching, illegal hunting, and encroachment from farming activities, forcing these animals to flee their natural habitat.

"We used to have cheetahs and lions here, but they haven't been sighted in a long time, even with enhanced surveillance. 

"The last time we saw a hippopotamus at the Hippo Pool was five years ago. Sadly, we now believe these species may be locally extinct," Ntui said.

He emphasized that conservation in Nigeria faces challenges, largely due to a lack of awareness about its importance, adding that "Many people still don’t understand the critical need for conservation.

"They view the park as a place that has been taken over and restricted for the benefit of a few, which makes our job even harder.

"Human activities like hunting, poaching, farming, and illegal grazing continue to threaten wildlife. Poachers hunt animals for meat, farmers try to encroach on the park, and herders insist on grazing their cattle on parkland.

"The herders often claim that the grass within the park is more palatable than what they find outside. These activities drive animals away from their natural habitat," he said.

He commended ANI for their support which he said has significantly improved the park's operations. "ANI has partnered with the park service, providing both financial and technical assistance. Thanks to their support, we now have better training for rangers, more patrol vehicles, canoes, and even a helicopter," he said.

Ntui noted that the introduction of the helicopter was a game-changer as the helicopter now help them to quickly deploy rangers to patrol locations, which has improved efficiency and effectiveness in park management.

The CP expressed optimism that, with the right partnerships and continued efforts, Gashaka Gumpti National Park will achieve global recognition and better conservation outcomes.

Secondary healthcare facilities in Taraba receives medical oxygen

 

By Thomas Samuel 

Taraba State Government has distributed medical oxygen to secondary healthcare centres across the state.

The commissioner of health, Doctor Burdiya Buma, delivered the equipment during a two-day training session for doctors and nurses on oxygen delivery services held at Sisfen Restaurant in Jalingo.

The commissioner who tasked the participants to be selfless and patriotic in the discharge of their statutory responsibility said the ministry's vision is to build a system that would effectively drive the healthcare sector to stand the test of time.

Doctor Burdiya reminded the health workers of the need to be dedicated in building their state, as doing so would support the system to deliver quality services despite challenges.

He said the government is aware of the challenges the health workers are facing, but they should not relent as the state government is working out modalities to integrate insurance to support the health care services in Taraba.

Receiving the medical oxygen on behalf of the participants, doctor Danjuma Tunga described the gesture as timely and added that the oxygen would save more lives in Taraba.

He said countless lives have been lost because of lack of access to medical oxygen and commended Governor Agbu Kefas for being the first to provide medical oxygen to secondary facilities in the state.

In his presentation on Oxygen therapy for the management of hypoxemia, doctor Akafa Gideon said most of the deaths recorded in various healthcare facilities were a result of inadequate or inefficient oxygen equipment.


The Taraba State Government's distribution of medical oxygen to secondary healthcare centres marks a significant step towards strengthening the state's healthcare system.