Abia State Governor Alex Otti has backed the establishment of the first National Park in the Southeast, to be sited in Abia State.
The governor gave the support while receiving a delegation from the National Park Service, led by the Chairman of its Governing Council, in his office.
Dr Otti assured the delegation of the state government’s support for the initiative, describing it as timely.
He said he had earlier in the day approved a request from the commissioner for environment for the tracing and identification of forest reserves across the state.
The governor said Abia has 19 forest reserves, 18 of which are available for consideration.
This, he said, provided an opportunity to have at least one conservation area in each of the 17 local governments.
He stressed the importance of environmental conservation and the need to preserve the state’s natural resources.
Otti said his administration would constitute a team, to be led by the commissioner for environment, with the participation of climate change and environmental experts, to ensure the establishment of the park.
He thanked the National Park Service for the initiative and congratulated ACG. Ugochukwu Michael on his elevation to the rank of Assistant Conservator-General.
The Chairman of the Governing Board of National Park Service, Dr. Kingsley Ononogbu, hailed Governor Otti’s achievements in the last three years.
He said the visit was to remind the governor of his commitment to the establishment of a National Park in Abia State, noting its absence in the Southeast had left the zone behind.
Ononogbu said the park would deliver socio-economic benefits to Abia State, including job creation, revenue generation, investment attraction, enhanced security and crime reduction.
Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Philemon Ogbonna, and other members of the State Executive Council were present at the meeting.