Reps approve presidential declaration designating 10 parks with national status

By Christiana Ekpa

The House of Representatives on Thursday approved the Presidential Declaration Order, 2022 designating 10 named Parks with the status of National Parks.

These are: Allawa Game Reserve, Niger State; Apoi Forest Reserve, Bayelsa State; Edumenum Reserve, Bayelsa State; Falgore Game Reserve Kano State; Baturiya Wetland game Reserve, Jigawa State and Kampe Forest Reserve, Kwara State.

Others include: Kogo Forest Reserve, Katsina State; Marhai Forest Reserve, Nasarawa State; Oba Hill Forest Reserve, Osun State and Pandam Forest Reserve, Plateau State.

The resolution followed adoption of a motion moved by the House Leader, Alhassan Ado Doguwa at plenaryThursday.

Moving the motion on behalf of the House Leader, the Deputy Leader Peter Akpatason said

President Muhammadu Buhari had on November 16, 2022 signed a Declaration Order, designating 10 parks across Nigeria as national parks.

He said in consonance with the provisions of Section 18 of the National Park Service Act, the President, communicated in writing requesting the concurrence of the House on the ten New National Parks.

“Subject to this Act, the President with the concurrence of the National Assembly, may by order published in the gazette -

(a) declare such areas in the Federation as he may deem fit as National Parks which shall be subject to the provisions of the Act.

“Or, an order made under Subsection (i) of this section shall -

(a) set out the situation limits of each National Park;

(b) specify the intern management policy for the National Park, and

(c) specify the classification of the “National Park,” the lawmaker stated.

Akpatason said the Declaration Order, 2022 set out: (a) the Declaration of new National Parks;

(b) name, situation and limits of the new National Park; and

(c) constitution of the National Parks Management Committee.”

Kicking against the motion, the Deputy Minority Leader, Toby Okechukwu said it raises issues regarding the practicality of establishing additional national parks.

Okechukwu acknowledged the right of the President to create such parks subject to the approval of Parliament but expressed concern at the dilapidated states of the existing National Parks.

He also wondered if the provisions made to ensure the additional ones will be “effectively managed” and called on the House to decide from a position of knowledge and ensure a “framework for effective management and safety of the parks is practiced.”

The lawmaker said the parks which are ungoverned spaces can be taken over by “bandits and terrorists”, if not carefully taken care of.

The Deputy Speaker of the House, Ahmed Idris Wase said the motion seeks to promote employment as well as the beauty and serenity of Nigeria.

According to him, the framework will be put in place and that the President seeking to help the States in managing the parks will ensure they thrive.

The Chairman House committee on Navy, Yusuf Gagdi in his contribution stated that the motion is in line with the constitutional powers of the President.

Gagdi stated that the aim of the Federal Government to aid the states in managing the Parks will ensure their success.

Also, Munir Dan-Agundi (APC, Kano) cited Baturiye Game Reserve, in Jigawa where people always have a good and relaxing experience when they visit.

L-R: Vice President elect Sen. Kashim Shetima congratulating the Niger state Governor Elect, Hon UMAR Mohammed Bago shortly after receiving his certificate of return, in Government House Minna, yesterday.

Court injunctions by politicians stall fight against corruption -Coalition

By Joy Baba Yesufu

Corrupt politicians, procured court injunctions, inter agency rivalry and the ‘cabals’ have been identified as the bane behind the several stalls in the fight against corruption in Nigeria.

This was disclosed by a coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) under the aegis of ‘Civil Society Alliance for Eradication of Corruption’ while addressing press on Thursday in Abuja on the calls from some quarters for the removal of Abdulrasheed Bawa, as the head of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The coalition said these forces influence outcome of investigations and situations whereby the commission goes ahead, they come up with procured court injunctions to stall further investigations.

They maintained that this attitude has stalled several anti-corruption battles been investigated upon by the commission, and has often times led to collision of interest as Bawa is left with no option to either respect court order or go ahead with the investigation so as to recover the looted loot.

The CSOs further said that, calls for sack and removal of Bawa at this transition period is a wrong idea that will further defeat the already established fight against some political office holders most of whom will no longer enjoy immunity and thus makes investigation easily done.

According to the coalition “Bawa should be allowed to complete the ongoing investigation of some of the political office holders, including that of the ruling party. We are sure these are part of those calling for his removal, which we stand against and advice the outgoing government to ensure that such calls are not listened to but instead make him more focus in delivering his mandate.

“The flimsy excuse under which they are calling for his removal, is selective disobedience to court rulings. We all know, the standard rule if such occurs, it’s for the complainant to approach court and charge him for contempt not call for outright removal.

“At times, we also know that under corrupt charges some court rules need to be further tested before obeyed as it can truncate an ongoing investigation.

“Under same Bawa, the commission has recorded 3,785 convictions and still counting, but to our surprise this was not celebrated by anyone but rather a frivolous call for his removal is what we are seeing. His removal now, will further portray us in bad light in the international community as not serious to build strong institution that we need to build to ensure that our looted funds are recovered and plunged back to the economy.

“We also, wish to advice the President elect not to listen to these nay sayers as Bawa will no doubt assist in bringing to book and make to face justice hidden corruption and recovery of loots that the government will need to stabilize with because we can’t be on a borrowing spleen again as a nation.

They passed a vote of confidence on Bawa urging him to him to carry on with delivery of his mandate and further deepen the anti-graft agency.