Veterinary Association Wants Taraba Govt. To Take Over Gashaka-Gumti National park

The Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA) Taraba State chapter has called on the Taraba State Government to take over the operation of Gahaka-Gumti National park from the Federal Government.

 

Taraba Chairman, Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association. Dr. Japhet Daniel said if Gashaka-Gumti national park's operation is taken over by the Taraba State Government, with the tourism potentials, it will drastically boost the state internally generated revenue IGR and pave way for self-sustainability of the Park's management.

 

Dr Daniel lamenting that the potentials of  the park has not been fully explored due to poor management said Yankari National Park  in Bauchi State, which is by far smaller than Gashaka national park, has long being taken over by the Bauchi State Government.

 

"Due to good management, the Yankari National Park has attracted tourists across the globe.

According to available records, in the year 2000 alone, Yankari national park hosted over 20,000 tourists from over 20 counties."

 

 

Dr Daniel said taking over the National Park by the state government would have direct benefit to the management of the Gashaka-Gumti National Park by the Taraba State Government,

 

Earlier chairman, Taraba State House Committee on Agriculture And Natural Resources Hon Habila Timothy Anderifun has on the floor of the state assembly called for the Taraba State Government to take over the operation of Gahaka-Gumti National park.

 

Gashaka-Gumti National Park was created by Federal Decree in 1991 by the merging of Gashaka Game Reserve with Gumti Game Reserve. According to guidebook the term Gashaka sector is use to indicate the Southern half of the park, and the term Gumti sector to indicate the Northern half.

Gashaka-Gumti National Park is located in a mountainous region of North-east Nigeria adjacent to the international border with Cameroon, and immediately to the North of the Mambilla plateau.