Posted by By PAUL ORUDE, Bauchi on
President Olusegun Obasanjo has commended Governor Adamu Mu'azu of Bauchi State for taking bold steps towards giving tourism a boost by embarking on the reconstruction of the popular Yankari Games Reserve.
President Olusegun Obasanjo has commended Governor Adamu Mu'azu of Bauchi State for taking bold steps towards giving tourism a boost by embarking on the reconstruction of the popular Yankari Games Reserve.
He also tasked hard-working Nigerians to visit tourism destinations like Yankari, instead of flying abroad to 'relax and recuperate"
The President spoke moments before formally flagging off the now re-christened Yankari Resort and Safari Development Project in Yankari, Bauchi State, the first phase of which is being executed at the cost of =N=7 Billion.
President Obasanjo recalled that at inception in 1999, his admission identified tourism as one of the areas to be given priority, while states with relevant potentials like Bauchi were encouraged to develop them.
'And I want to commend Governor Mu'azu for the seriousness you have attached to the Yankari Project" Obasanjo said, disclosing that the initial fears preceding the Federal Government handover of the Yankari to the Bauchi State had been erased by the successes recorded so far.
The President said he was thrilled to learn that Mu'azu was already working out a tourism package in conjunction with Governor Donald Duke by which foreign tourists could visit Yankari Resort and Safari, and then move down to other destinations in Cross River State under one arrangement.
He also lauded the plan to preserve the eco-system and ensure that the environment remains eco-friendly, adding 'I am happy you have already started getting commendations in this direction"
Earlier in his address Mu'azu had thanked the President for facilitating the handover of the Games Reserve to the Bauchi State Government in June this year.
He announced that contract for the reconstruction of the Federal road leading to Yankari and into the resort, has been awarded by the State Government which has been promised a refund by the Federal Government when completed.
Mu'azu assured that when completed, the new Yankari Resort and Safari will be the best of its kind in the whole of West African Sub-region.
Welcoming the President, the Commissioner for Tourism and Culture, Alhaji Mohammed Yahaya, said the reconstruction of the popular tourist attraction is the best thing to happen to tourism in the country.
He said the governor has done so much for the industry that he deserved to be named Mr. Tourism.