Bauchi govt boosts security, upgrades facilities at Yankari, other tourism sites

The Bauchi State Government says it has enhanced security and upgraded tourism infrastructure at the Yankari Game Reserve, Sumu Wildlife Park, Lame Bura Forest, Maladumba Lake, and other protected areas across the state.

The Managing Director of the Bauchi State Tourism Development Corporation, Dr Muhammad Nasiru, disclosed this during a press briefing on Wednesday at the Bauchi State Press Centre.

According to Nasiru, the briefing was intended to update the public on the government’s achievements, ongoing conservation efforts, and the security framework safeguarding the state’s ecological assets.

He noted that for years, the reserves had faced threats from poachers, illegal loggers, livestock grazers, and regional insecurity linked to banditry. However, he said the situation had now turned around.

“Through strategic resilience, heavily fortified collaborations, and targeted funding, we have successfully reclaimed the narrative. Our reserves are not only safe; they are thriving,” Nasiru said.

He explained that the government had overhauled tactical and defensive operations across the 2,244 square kilometres of the Yankari landscape and surrounding ecosystems. Local forest rangers have been integrated into joint patrol teams comprising the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police Force, and vigilante groups to flush out criminal elements using the reserves as hideouts.

The tourism corporation also partnered with the Wildlife Conservation Society to upgrade the Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool. Advanced video surveillance systems and GPS satellite tracking collars have been deployed on elephant herds. Rangers have received specialised training in night patrol operations, wildlife interpretation, and community engagement.

Nasiru said arrests of poachers and loggers have dropped significantly due to strict law enforcement and a zero-tolerance policy on livestock grazing, indicating that the deterrence system is now working.

He praised the Bauchi State Government and the federal government for their support of conservation and tourism development projects, and specifically commended Governor Bala Mohammed for his commitment to revitalising the state’s tourism assets.

The government’s interventions have led to the rehabilitation of the Wikki Warm Springs, including new changing rooms, modern restrooms, and improved pavilions.

The main restaurant, executive lodges, and chalets within the reserve have also been renovated to meet international hospitality standards. Solar-powered lighting systems have been installed across the resort, camps, and administrative pathways to reduce carbon emissions and noise pollution around wildlife habitats.

Nasiru noted that support from the federal government and the World Bank-backed Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes project provided safari trucks, upgraded facilities, and field kits for rangers. Aerial surveillance patrols introduced by the Wildlife Conservation Society now scan the reserve to identify illegal activities such as poaching camps, cattle encroachment, and illegal logging, with coordinates relayed to ground patrol teams.

Community-based conservation initiatives are also being implemented to improve local participation in wildlife protection. The Wildlife Conservation Society sponsors educational field trips for schoolchildren and works with farmers around the reserve to establish non-lethal measures, including pepper fences, to prevent elephants from destroying crops.

According to the tourism corporation, monthly tourist visits to Yankari have increased from about 500 in previous years to over 2,000 visitors. More than 10,000 local vendors, guides, and artisans have benefited economically from the renewed tourism activities.

The corporation also announced plans to enforce mandatory digital e-registration for hotels, transport operators, travel agencies, and tourism-related businesses across the state.

Nasiru said the initiative is designed to improve revenue generation, data management, and security monitoring within the tourism ecosystem. The digital registration system would eliminate anonymity in lodging and transport operations while enabling real-time verification of operators. A centralised database will support collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services, and military task forces.

“We are sending a clear, uncompromising message to poachers, bandits, and environmental saboteurs: Bauchi’s protected spaces are no longer open for illegal exploits,” Nasiru warned.

He further disclosed that the government is finalising a 10-year management plan covering 2025 to 2035 to sustain conservation and security gains across the state’s protected areas.