Dr Ibrahim Goni, Conservator-General of the National Park Service (NPS), has assured Nigerians that scientific operations at national parks will address security challenges in the country.
Goni expressed this view when a team from National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) paid a courtesy call on NPS on Friday in Abuja.
The conservator-general assured that if the collaboration with NASRDA was explored, it would tackle the security challenges to the barest minimum.
He added that the collaboration with NASRDA would reduce the engagement of manpower at the national park service.
“Our plans and mandate are to secure the plants and animals in the designated national parks in the country; your agency is key due to the advantages to be explored,’’ he said.
He added that NPS was essential to conserve the country’s national parks.
The NPS will draft a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a working document to fast track the partnership.
Earlier, Dr Matthew Adepoju Director-General, NASRDA, said that an institution like the National Park Service should be supported with all the necessary government apparatus.
“And that is why NASRDA believes that with technology, we can support the service; it is incredible how technology can help us do a lot.
“We have conducted some research that needs collaboration with the national park in the area of forest management, monitoring and the health condition of the vegetation which is fauna and flora and is very paramount,” he said.
Adepoju said that NASRDA had done some researches in the area of ecotourism because tourism was one of the critical areas of national development.
He regretted that tourism had been neglected as the country had not taken good opportunity of the endowment that God had given to it. (NAN)
