By Wole Ayodele in Jalingo
The Lamdo of Gashaka in Taraba State, Alhaji Zubairu Hammangabdo, has enjoined media practitioners to help promote and develop the tourism potentials in Gashaka particularly the Gashaka-Gumti National Park.
Hammangabdo, who made the appeal in his palace on Sunday while playing host to the executives of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Taraba Council said the press has a critical role to play in promoting tourism in the country.
Specifically, the emir, who is one of the first class traditional rulers in the state, urged the media to assist the government to draw national and international attention to the national park which is the largest in West Africa thereby attracting tourists from across the world.
According to him, the park was gazetted from two game reserves in 1991 and covers a land mass of about 6,402 sq km.
“Much of the northern part of the park is savannah grassland while the southern has a rugged terrain characterised by mountainous areas, steep slopes, as well as deep valleys and gorges, and it is home to mountain forests.
Continuing, he said: “The altitude ranges from about 457 metres (1,499ft ) in the northern flatter corner of the park and up to 2,419 metres (7,936 ft) at Chappal Waddi, (the Mountain of Death) which is the highest point in Nigeriaâ€
Urging local and international investors to take advantage of the abundant tourism potential of his chiefdom, the emir, who was until his ascension to the throne in 2016 was a seasoned journalist, said his doors are always open to partner would-be investors and tourists.
He noted that with the completion of the Bali-Gashaka road the re-opening of the UBA branch, the town is set to welcome tourists from every part of the world.
Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the Chapel, Wole Ayodele, stated that they were in the palace to condole the emir over the recent death of his elder brother, Alhaji Mustapha Hammangabdo.
Ayodele noted that the death of Alhaji Mustapha, who was a former local government chairman, two time Commissioner and Special Adviser to Governor Ishaku was an irreparable loss to the emirate council and the state at large.
He said the deceased had contributed significantly to the development of the state and the nation in general.
