By Sharon Obi
Abuja – Dr Garba Atari, Director-General, National Orientation Agency (NOA) has urged Nigerians to patronise the nations parks and game reserves as a way of developing the tourism sector in the country.
Abari made the remark in a statement signed by Mr Paul Odenyi, Head of Press Unit, NOA, and issued out in Abuja on Wednesday.
The Director General, who was speaking when the Conservator-General of the National Park Services (NPS), Alhaji Ibrahim Goni paid him a courtesy visit, said that Nigeria had all it takes to be a tourism nation.
Abari said that the government was working hard to restore the security of the country to normalcy and citizens must develop love and patriotism for the country.
Abari called for relationship between NOA and NPS to be deployed at all levels to propagate government policies and programme.
The NOA boss said that the Agency had offices in the 36 states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as well as 774 Local Government Areas and the Federal (FCT).
He said that such presence in the country gave the agency robust platforms to educate and enlighten the citizens about the abundant wild life and tourism resources in the nation.
According to him, Nigeria has what it takes to be a tourism destination for all.
In his speech, Goni said that the essence of his visit was to seek ways of collaboration with NOA for effective advocacy and enlightenment on National Park Services.
He said that the NPS had been upgraded to a paramilitary organisation in line with international standard and was seeking support for mass awareness and publicity.
Goni stated that the NPS if properly positioned could serve as agent of rural transformation, integration, creation of employment and provision of health facilities for the host community.
