State governments are shutting down zoos and wildlife parks to build estates for the rich.
Despite UNICEF’s endorsement, Nigeria’s only open defecation-free state struggles with human faecesAketi: On the morning after sunset, By Doyin OdebowaleDespite UNICEF’s endorsement, Nigeria’s only open defecation-free state struggles with human faecesAketi: On the morning after sunset, By Doyin OdebowaleAs a child growing up in Warri, Delta State, Ambrose Igboke was regaled with folktales of tortoise mischief, wisdom, and longevity. The lion was always touted as the king of the forest.
“Then, the government began to allocate the land to some of its top officials and wealthy people in the state. They were the ones who could afford the cost of the land. It’s within the Government Reserved Area . Initially, it was called Zoo Estate. But it was later renamed Ekulu East Estate so that it would no longer be associated with the former zoo,” the official said.Investigations showed that Peter Mbah, the state governor, has a property in the alluring estate.
To immortalise the former occupants of the estate, streets were named after animals whose natural habitats were destroyed to create room for humans to build theirs. From the Ogui roundabout, you can access the estate through Peacock Drive. Then, you move to Lion Avenue, Tiger Street, Eagle Street, Flamingo Street, Leopard Street, Crown Bird Street, Zebra Close, Giraffe Street, Fox Street, Dolphin Street, and Penguin Close.
During the 2019 World Environmental Day celebration, Emeka Ihedioha, former Imo governor, promised to renovate the facility to international standards. He said his government would prioritise the preservation of the ecosystem. Funds were released, work began, and a new administrative building was built.
Two years later, Mr Uzodinma acted against his own words. On 21 February 2023, some state officials visited the zoo and evacuated all the animals. The officials had informed the zookeepers that the animals would be relocated to the Jos Wildlife Park in Plateau State – a distance of about 13 hours by road. Bad roads, security checks, occasional rests, and any unforeseen circumstances along the roads could make the trip up to 20 hours or more.
In 2023, the Federal High Court ruled, restraining the government from taking over the land. The Court of Appeal upheld the high court’s ruling, and the government took the case to the Supreme Court. “The government of Imo state does not have the right to convert the lands into residential plots and allocate the same to individuals or groups. It is even more illegal when the new allocations are for 99 years, much more than the remaining years the said lease has to run.”
Mr Abioye alleged that the governor attempted to bribe him so the government could have its way with the facility. He said his resistance led to theand an attempted assassination on his life. Mr Abioye eventually fled the country following the release of his wife from captivity. ”That is why you see that the only green area in the city capital in Imo was the zoo. The forest served as an oxygen bank for the city. It was also a local conservation heritage site where endangered and protected species were preserved for posterity. We have a laboratory of over 20,000 species of plants, most of which are of diverse medical value. All of them are gone,” Mr Abioye said.
Tunde Morakinyo, executive director of the Africa Nature Investors Foundation, has a contrary opinion. He said zoos should not exist and should be allowed to go extinct. However, he condemned the destruction of the forests surrounding zoos. The landscape has a wetland, and the Ogunpa Dam Forest reserve surrounding the garden serves as a watershed for the ravaging Ogunpa River, which destroyed the facility with flooding in 1980. The incident was said to have killed most of the animals and also claimed some lives.
“The Agodi Gardens and forest is a big catchment area. They cut down over 5,000 trees in that place, and they have not stopped. There is a tremendous risk of flood because of what has been done. It’s an environmental emergency. Most of those trees are about 70 to 80 years old,” Rosalie Modder-Oyefeso, co-founder of Save Our Green Spaces Group, told TheCable.
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