The federal government, through the Nigerian Park Service (NPS), has officially taken over Pandam Park from the Plateau Government.

The handover, which took place on Friday in Jos, was coordinated by the state’s Tourism Corporation, with members of the Plateau Executive Council and senior officers of the NPS in attendance.

Pandam National Park is a major game reserve and conservation area located in Quanpan Local Government Area (LGA) of Plateau State, along the Lafia-Shendam Road.

The park had been partially shut down due to severe security challenges, abandonment and encroachment by criminal elements.

Pwajok Chuwang, general manager of the Plateau Tourism Corporation, who represented Governor Caleb Mutfwang, expressed delight over the development, describing it as a step in the right direction for the state.

Mr Chuwang, who enumerated employment opportunities and insecurity, among other factors, as reasons for the decision, said it was a win-win situation for the state.

“As a government, we came to the realisation that there are enormous advantages for Plateau to gain from having the Federal Government take over the management of the Pandam National Park.

“The case of ungoverned spaces in Nigeria has been a major contributor to insecurity and all sorts of criminal activities, including kidnappings, terrorism and related activities in Plateau and other parts of the country. Pandam National Park was almost a no-go area for citizens of Plateau due to such criminal activities within the cover of the forest; almost every major kidnapping incident that happened within the Quan’pan, Lafiya, and Shendam axis of Plateau was orchestrated from within that park.

“Today’s handing over will help rid the environment of miscreants, provide employment for citizens of the state, and relieve the state government of the enormous resources required to cater for the park. Above all, this is a win-win situation for all concerned, as collaborations between the state government and FG are always highly welcome, because we will be huge beneficiaries of all the critical developments that will take place within that environment,” he said.

On his part, Ibrahim Goni, the Conservator-General of the NPS, represented by Jonah Moses, said the park would remain a heritage of the Plateau people but would henceforth be managed by the federal government.

Mr Goni added that with the FG’s involvement in its management, Plateau would benefit more in terms of tourism development, employment opportunities and efforts to tackle the menace of terrorism originating from hideouts in the forest.

“On behalf of the Conservator General, I appreciate the gesture of His Excellency, the executive governor of Plateau, through the Tourism Corporation for deeming it fit to hand over Pandam Wildlife Park to the Federal Government as a national park.

“As a service, this is actually a joy to us that another park has been added to the number we have before now. We want to assure us that Pandam National Park is in Plateau; it is not going to be shifted from Plateau, every enhancement, every development, and any progress that is going to be recorded in that park is going to be directly or indirectly impactful on this state and its people.

“You will agree with me that this is actually a milestone as far as youth development and employment is concerned. Before now, Pandam was a viable ground for tourism, but the place has been shut down because of several visible factors. Now with the coming of the NPS into this intervention, we want to assure you that Pandam National Park is going to be revamped and resuscitated, and tourism will be enhanced in the state,” Mr Goni said.

(NAN)