The national parks of Nigeria are preserved, enhanced, protected and managed by the Nigeria National Park Service. The Nigeria National Park Service is a parastatal under the Federal Ministry of the Environment, and is headed by a conservator general. It works closely with the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation.
The first national park was Kainji Lake, established by the military ruler General Olusegun Obasanjo in 1979. The National Parks Governing Board and five new National Parks were set up in 1991.
Yankari Game Reserve was upgraded to a national park in 1992, although it was later handed over to the Bauchi State government in June 2006.
The parks cover a total land area of approximately , or about 3% of Nigeria's total land area.
Parks Park Area Established State(s) Notes Chad Basin 1991 Borno, Yobe Includes part of the Hadejia-Nguru wetlands and the Sambisa Game ReserveCross River 1991 Cross River Okwangwo section and Oban section ()Gashaka Gumti 1991 Taraba, Adamawa Kainji 1979 Niger, Kwara Includes Kainji Lake, Borgu Game Reserve and Zugurma Game ReserveKamuku 1999 Kaduna Okomu 1999 Edo Part of the Okomu Forest ReserveOld Oyo 1991 Oyo, Kwara Yankari 1962 Bauchi Operated by the Bauchi State governmentOba Hills 2021 Iwo Upgraded to National Park in 2021 and officially handed offer to federal Government in 2024
History
Colonial era During British colonial rule, authorities used forest conservation as a pretense for further colonial exploitation of Nigeria's resources. This included the establishment of a forestry department and policies on forestry.
Establishment of the National Parks Service The first national park was Kainji Lake, established by the military ruler General Olusegun Obasanjo in 1979. The National Parks Governing Board and five new National Parks were set up in 1991.
Despite their establishment, Nigeria's national parks have faced various challenges, including habitat degradation, poaching, and illegal logging.
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