The Minister of State for Environment, Dr Iziaq Salako, has inaugurated an inter-ministerial committee to promote Nigeria’s iconic wildlife and landscape in all the major airports in the country as part of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Federal Government in the preservation and promotion of the country’s rich natural heritage.
The minister enjoined the committee to work tirelessly towards achieving the task of promoting a beautiful Nigeria through the country’s wildlife in the airports.
Salako explained: “Nigeria is home to diverse and unique wildlife, hence, the initiative is intended to safeguard her biodiversity and boost the country’s famed tourism resources to the benefit of national pride and improved revenue generation for national development.”
He expressed delight over the Federal Ministry of Aviation and the Wild Africa Fund, a conservation support organisation, for the collaboration and partnership to achieve the goal.
The chairman of the committee and Conservator General of the National Parks Service, Dr Ibrahim Goni, while responding, appreciated the minister’s vision, especially coming at a time when the country’s rich biodiversity is facing a lot of threats.
He believed that the promotion of the national parks at the country’s airports would, in no small measure, aid ecotourism development in the country.
The West Africa lead for Wild Fund Africa, Linus Unah, also stated in his remarks that Nigeria’s acclaimed wildlife and landscape deserve prominence in airports, as it is the practice in other parts of the world.