Yusuf Oketola
THE Federal Government has approved Oba Hills Forest Reserve in Iwo, State of Osun, as a national park.
Conservator General of the Federation, Dr. Ibrahim Goni, disclosed this during a visit to Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, in Osogbo, on Monday.
Goni revealed that the Federal Government has released the sum of N500m for the take-off of the 10 new national parks in Nigeria.
He called on the state government and host community to give their unalloyed support to the agency for the project to thrive.
In his remark, Governor Oyetola commended the FG for approving the Oba Hills Forest Reserve as a national park.
Oyetola noted that the development will improve the economy of the state and put the legendary Oba Hills Forest Reserve on the world map, and turn it to a tourist site.
The Governor therefore pledged his maximum cooperation with the National Park Service for the smooth and effective take-off of the project.
Earlier in his address, the Commissioner for Environment and Sanitation in Osun, Engr. Solagbade Oladepo appreciated the efforts of the Conservator General and his team in the journey of upgrading Oba Hills Forest Reserve into a national park status.
Oladepo also appreciated the steering committee put in place by Governor Oyetola to midwife and sensitise the immediate communities of the forest reserve and prepare ground for its effective take-off.
He said Oba Hill Forest Reserve occupies 5,250 hectares of land with abundance of significant plant and animal species and five hills that have significant ecological importance which will surely help in the re-introduction and adaptation of important animal species and other uniquely important features.
Oladepo charged the National Park Service on the need to continue to fully carry the state government along in the implementation of the plans and programmes for the take-off and management of the new Oba Hills National Park.
