National Park Service launches document for effective service delivery

By Zeniat Abubakar, Abuja

The Nigerian Government has launched the National Park Service, NPS, 2022, regulations document as part of the government efforts to enhance the NPS, service delivery.

The document was launched by Minister of Environment Mr, Muhammed Abdullahi, in commemoration of this year World Rangers Day, held in Abuja the nation’s capital.

He said that the gazette would help the National Parks Service in the areas of effective Park management and operations across the country.

“This framework is key to our getting support from our Armed Forces. It’s on this note that i invite them to join me to launch this regulation, we believed that we are almost reaching there as parts of the condition given to us by the Nigerian Armed forces we have the gazette we have the regulations which essentially guide how the Nigerian Parks Service and the Rangers conduct the activities, in the course of their duties. It also regulates how we handle Firearms within the Service, and it also provides for that synergy and supervision and capacity development by regular Armed Forces.” The Minister explained.

The Minister said that the Park Rangers undertake the difficult task of protecting the country’s diverse ecosystems such as Forest Reserves, Game Reserves, Biosphere Reserves, National Parks, amongst others which are very critical to the safety and general wellbeing of every Nigerian.

“Their activities are crucial to achieving the United Nations SDGs, in a bid to carry out the onerous tasks of Park protection and policing, Park Rangers are often confronted with numerous challenges and thereby, face the risk of being maimed or pay the supreme price to protect nature. available records from the Service show high incidents of such terrible attacks. a total number of seventeen (17) Park Rangers fell victims to homicide between 2020 and 2021 while several others have also been maimed.” He stated.

Abdullahi further said that the government is not resting on its efforts in putting, appropriate measures to assist the National Park Service and the Rangers in the course of carrying out their duties.

“In an attempt to ameliorate the challenges confronting Park Rangers and also mitigating the negative effects of climate change, government is doing quite a lot in this regard. Some of the interventions so far include improvement in the budgetary allocations to the Service, acquisition of more sophisticated arms, acquisition of modern conservation equipment such as drones, cyber trackers, SMARTs, etc to assist in surveillance and efficient data collection, enhancing capacities of officers & men through regular paramilitary training with the support of the military & other relevant paramilitary agencies.” The Minister added.

The Conservator General, National Parks Service, Dr. Ibrahim Goni said the document was produce to enhance the performance of Park Rangers and facilitate their effective protection of Parks’ resources.

He note that there is need to recognize, and support the good work of Rangers protecting the country’s wildlife and wild places, in their contribution to the mitigation of climate change effect.

“You will agree with me that this world wouldn’t have been a better place to live in, but for the critical and laudable work Park Rangers do across the globe. They work tirelessly and risk their lives and even some had to pay the supreme price to ensure that this all-important heritage is adequately protected and conserved for intergenerational equity.” Dr Goni stated.

Representative of the Senate Committee on Environment, Professor Etimbuk Essiet commended the NPS and the Minister of Environment in ensuring the World Ranger Day is held in Nigeria.

“To the men and women of the NPS particularly the Ranger we commend your efforts the Committee wishes to let you know if prepared recommendations are made in respect to your welfare , funding and other things the Senate Committee would look at it with passion and ensured that adequate funding is made to improve your welfare and also compensate all the risk you are taking in defence of the country’s natural heritage.” He said.

He however applead to the Ministry and NPS to look into the condition of service of the members of staff career progression and welfare and also working instrument.

“We know that in those days Rangers where allowed to carry light Arms but today you can see the threats in the forest not only from the animals but other things that are there, there is needs to integrate them into palamilitary training either by the Nigerian Army or Police, to ensure they are properly train because most of the time these Rangers knowns the forest and understand every single places in the forest, if they are properly trained to work with the military they will serve as a military resource by giving the country intelligence also showing the military where and when on what to do at the appropriate time, train them not only in the conservation of Forest resources but also in ensuring and aiding National security but if there is any legal impediment to this effect please bring it to our attention the Senate Committee would not hesitate to ensure that necessary legislature are introduce to ensure necessary legal instrument are amended to give them more power to act.” he explained.

President International Ranger Federation, Mr. Chris Galliers, said there is much to be done to increase support and improve the welfare and safety of rangers, as outlined in the Chitwan Declaration and the subsequent URSA Action Plan.

He stressed that this will only be through a united sector to effect the needed change where rangers are recognised and treated as professionals globally.

“If we are to be successful in tackling the global challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss, we need to draw on all the skills and knowledge available. These include a ranger workforce that is more inclusive, for example of gender, culture and age of rangers. By achieving this we will also address another concern, do we have enough members of the next generation looking to become rangers.” Mr. Galliers added.