NDA to establish Nigeria’s largest conservation centre

Nigerian Defence Academy

…Launches bio-diversity centre
As part of efforts to conserve and regenerate the environment, which has been affected by human activities, the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) has commenced the planting of one million trees within the academy to establish the largest man-made conservation centre in the country.

The academy also launched a Biodiversity and Conservation Centre for the purpose of research and study of climate change, medicine and among others.

At the ground breaking ceremony of the initiatives, the Commandant of the Academy, Major General John Ochoa attributed rise in insecurity in the northern part of the country to desert encroachment and desertification.

While stating that the space covered by NDA for the tree planting will be the biggest man-made conservation centre in Nigeria, the commandant said northern Nigeria is faced by the challenge of desert encroachment. “And this is part of the insecurity we currently face in the region.

“There is a plan to fully establish the NDA biodiversity and conservation centre, which aims to provide a research place for knowledge and education. We, here, provide opportunities for Nigerians to earn first and second Degrees. So, it will act as a place of research and study. We are helping to conserve and regenerate the environment, which has been affected by human activities.

“We want to also showcase our biodiversity and conservation centre as a way to go so that other establishments in private and public will follow suit, so that we can give back to nature what we took from it. By preserving our environment, we are enhancing the means of livelihood of the population and ensuring that desert encroachment and dersertification is halted for the betterment of the Nigerian economy, betterment of the society and world at large,” the commandant added.

In his remarks, the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas, described the tree planting initiative as first of its kind in the institute. According to him, “One million is not a small number. This in line with Mr. President’s commitment to climate change and also the minister’s commitment to see that real mitigation against climate change in this country takes place.”

The minister was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Mr Mahmud Ahmed Tambari.