A member of the African Arts and Cultural Heritage Association (AACHA), Mr Steve Eruada, has called on the Federal Government to develop the zoological gardens to boost the tourism sector.
Eruada told newmen on Tuesday in Abuja that most animals in zoos in the country had died due to improper care and maintenance.
He, however, said that zoos were expensive to maintain, but that with effective partnership between the private sector and the government, the situation would improve.
“The zoological gardens in the country should be properly maintained to serve as a source of revenue generation for the country.
“Though the maintenance is quite expensive, more should be done to make them more attraction and productive to the economy.”
Eruada said that well developed zoos were critical to the growth of tourism sector in the country.
He advised that zoological gardens should be used for the purpose for which they were set up.
According to him, most gardens are used for social gathering rather than for the purpose for which they are created.
“Tourism is not about just opening up gardens for beer parlours, night clubs, recreations and other negative motives, but to impact the economy positively.”
He said that we need to value nature by getting close to it, adding, “zoological gardens are made up of species of animals that are part of nature.’’
Eruada, however, urged Nigerians to create the attitude of appreciating the country’s ecosystem.