Oba Hills Park: Osun Monarchs Demand 70% Jobs For Host Communities

Traditional rulers from communities hosting the Oba Hills National Park in Osun State have demanded that 70 per cent of employment opportunities in the park be reserved for indigenes, while calling for urgent boundary demarcation to address concerns over suspected mining interests around Akinleye Town.

Traditional rulers from communities hosting the Oba Hills National Park in Osun State have demanded that 70 per cent of employment opportunities in the park be reserved for indigenes, while calling for urgent boundary demarcation to address concerns over suspected mining interests around Akinleye Town.

The monarchs made the demands on Wednesday during a courtesy visit to the Conservator-General of the National Park Service, Dr Muhammad Goni, at the service’s headquarters in Abuja.

They also called for continued farming under regulated conservation arrangements, budgetary support for traditional rulers, improved infrastructure in host communities and clarification on plans to remove exotic tree species from the park.

In an address delivered by the Secretary of the Oba Hills Traditional Council, Shedrack Adebayo Adelakun, the monarchs said the park’s establishment presented opportunities for environmental restoration, tourism, employment and community development but stressed that these benefits required sustained government investment and meaningful engagement with residents.

They pledged to mobilise their communities to support conservation, discourage illegal activities and maintain peaceful relations with park authorities, provided their concerns over land, livelihoods and employment were addressed.

“We want the government to make the employment opportunity 70 per cent in favour of the host communities,” the monarchs said, adding that the physical development of their communities should also be prioritised.

They urged the government to establish clear boundaries around the park, including internal demarcations where necessary, to prevent misunderstandings between conservation authorities and local land users.

The rulers expressed concern over suspected mining interests around Akinleye Town, warning that urgent demarcation was needed to prevent potential disputes and protect the park’s resources.

They also sought clarification on when the National Park Service would act on their concerns regarding the removal of exotic tree species identified within the protected area.

On agriculture, the monarchs appealed for continued farming in appropriate areas, particularly where new seedlings had been planted, arguing that conservation measures should not unnecessarily undermine local livelihoods.

They further requested budgetary provisions for traditional rulers involved in park management and community engagement, stressing that their demands were intended to strengthen cooperation rather than create confrontation.

Responding, Goni cautioned against the expectation that the location of a national park in a particular community automatically guaranteed a predetermined share of federal employment opportunities.

He said recruitment into the federal service must comply with the principle of federal character, which requires equitable representation across the country.

The Conservator-General disclosed that the service was working with the Osun State Government to absorb eligible personnel who had served in the former forest reserve, subject to applicable administrative procedures and the choices of affected workers.

He said the process was ongoing for those who had indicated interest in transferring from state government employment to the federal service.

Goni urged the traditional rulers to exercise patience and accept the opportunities made available to their communities, stressing that recruitment must follow established federal guidelines.

He, however, assured them that the service would work to ensure surrounding communities benefited from the park through sustainable agriculture, employment, community-based enterprises and the responsible use of forest resources.

Addressing concerns that the park’s establishment could deprive residents of farmland and livelihoods, Goni said the service would not immediately displace communities from their existing activities but would gradually introduce sustainable, technology-driven farming practices.

“We are not dislodging the people immediately. It is a gradual process,” he said.

He explained that the service planned to promote agroforestry, allowing farmers to cultivate suitable crops, including cassava, yam, maize and groundnuts, under appropriate tree cover without destroying indigenous vegetation.

He discouraged the cultivation of crops requiring extensive vegetation clearance, including cashew, saying the aim was to preserve the park’s ecological integrity while supporting local food production.

Goni also identified opportunities for women to organise into groups to process and market products derived from indigenous plants, provided the activities were carried out under the guidance of park authorities.

He cited existing arrangements in Cross River National Park, where communities were permitted to collect approved non-timber forest products, including bush mango, under controlled conditions.

According to him, such initiatives would enable residents to earn income from forest resources without destroying the trees and vegetation that sustain them.

The Conservator-General further assured the monarchs that host communities would be represented in the park’s management structure through local advisory and management committees.

He explained that each community surrounding the park would nominate a representative to the local advisory committee, whose members would select their chairman.

He added that a prominent traditional ruler from the host area would be appointed to the park’s management committee, while the local management structure would be constituted following a recommendation by the Osun State governor and approval by the President.

Goni said the arrangements were designed to give communities a voice in park management and provide a platform for resolving disagreements before they escalated into conflicts.

On the removal of exotic tree species, he disclosed that a committee established to examine the matter had completed its assignment and submitted its report to the Minister of Environment.

He said the removal would proceed after the minister’s approval, adding that the National Park Service intended to replace the exotic plants with indigenous species as part of its ecological restoration programme.

The traditional rulers commended the ongoing restoration initiative, which they said involved the mobilisation and planting of 11,000 indigenous seedlings, with contributions from FR2N, IHS Towers and Polaris Bank facilitated through the Nigerian Conservation Foundation.

They described the initiative as an important step towards restoring degraded vegetation, protecting soil and water resources, improving wildlife habitats and strengthening resilience to climate change.

Goni said the programme would help preserve biodiversity and improve environmental conditions in surrounding communities.

He explained that protected vegetation helps mitigate climate change, reduce erosion and pollution, moderate temperatures and support rainfall patterns.

The Conservator-General also disclosed that the service was working to establish operational structures at the park’s entry points rather than deep inside the protected area to minimise environmental damage.

He said ranger facilities would strengthen surveillance and help prevent illegal entry, hunting, logging and mining.

Goni urged host communities to support the protection of the park’s wildlife and vegetation, expressing optimism that Oba Hills could become a major tourism destination if its natural resources were adequately preserved.

He said the park was already attracting international attention and could develop into a significant tourism destination if wildlife populations and indigenous vegetation were successfully restored.

The Conservator-General added that the service would continue engaging traditional rulers and local communities to resolve disputes, build trust and prevent conflicts over land and resource use.

In his remarks, the Olu of Akinleye Town, Oba Nafiu Abiodun Taofeek, said the establishment of the park initially generated apprehension among some residents who feared losing access to their farmlands and other sources of livelihood.

He said subsequent engagements with park officials had helped ease tensions and improve understanding of the objectives of the national park.