The Renevlyn Development Initiative (RDI) has urged the Plateau State government to halt illegal mining activities in the Jos Wildlife Park and neighboring communities and restore them to their original state.
The call from RDI follows distress signals from residents of Tudun Wada, Dong, and Federal Low-Cost Housing regarding the hazards posed by illegal ore mining in their vicinity. This activity has resulted in sinkholes in farmlands, with locals alleging complicity of park officials who turn a blind eye to the escalating mining activities.
Reports gathered by RDI indicate a systematic decline in the elephant, baboon, and hyena populations within the park due to mining, while the three affected communities, comprising approximately 800,000 individuals, have witnessed fatalities caused by unstable soil conditions during farming activities.
Established in 1972 by Governor Joseph Gomwalk, the Jos Wildlife Park was once celebrated as a bastion of nature conservation. However, over the past decade, illegal mining has tarnished its reputation. Locals accuse corrupt government officials of tacitly supporting the miners for personal gain.
Tobias Lengnan Dapam, a board member of RDI, highlighted not only the environmental hazards but also the disturbance to the once serene environment, affecting both animals and tourists. Increased crime rates in the communities further compound the issue, as unidentified non-natives flock to the area due to mining activities.
In response, Ifeoluwa Adediran, RDI’s Project Officer, emphasized the pressing need for the Plateau State Government to restore the park and its environs, safeguarding livelihoods, peace, security, and potential revenue streams.
Adediran stressed the necessity of conducting a comprehensive environmental audit of the Jos Wildlife Park and surrounding areas, advocating for consensus-building among host communities to cease mining activities and facilitate rehabilitation efforts.