From all indications,
eco-tourism in Nigeria is bound to receive a remarkable boost with the establishment of the Royal Golf Course and Nature Park in Dutse, the capital of Jigawa State.
The golf course and nature park, which is located about three kilometres from Dutse, is the brainchild of the Emir of Dutse, Alhaji Muhammadu Sunusi.
Tourism experts say that the nature park would boost efforts to promote ecotourism in the country and stem travels to famous ecotourism destinations in countries like South Africa, Kenya and Tanzania.
They describe nature park as a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation, while providing special opportunities for sightseeing, study or research.
As regards the Royal Golf Course and Nature Park in Dutse, Sunusi said that that it was established as part of his designed efforts to develop Jigawa State and boost the country’s tourism potential.
Observers describe the emir’s decision to set up the golf course and nature park as very pragmatic, as tourists from all over the country now come to the park, either to play golf or have a good time.
Even people from countries like Niger Republic, Mali, Chad, Cameroon, Benin Republic and Ghana now visit the park for vacation, they add.
Sunusi said that the Royal Golf Course and Nature Park is a natural environment which consists of a golf course, a nature park and an amusement garden.
He explained that the nature park is home to a variety of wildlife and aquaculture.
“The wild animals in the park include spring duck, deer, camel, antelope and ostrich, while the aquatic creatures include crocodile and different species of fish, among others,’’ he adds.
Sunusi also said  that the golf course has a network of roads which traverse the entire area.
The emir concedes that he once had some problems in getting adequate water to make the golf course to remain lush all year round, adding that this compelled him to construct earth dams around the course.
“The idea here is simple; if the dams could trap and harvest rainwater at least twice a year, there would be enough water to water the course for a whole year,’’ he says, adding: “And the arrangement is working quite fine.’’
The emir says that 42 earth dams were constructed in the entire area to provide water for the animals and the vegetation throughout the year.
He says that eight boreholes were also constructed in the area to provide additional water for the flora and fauna.
He says that over 60,000 species of trees were planted in the golf course and nature park, which covers a total area of 120 hectares of land, fully fenced.
On the golf course, Sunusi said that it has 18 holes — the international standard — with “putting greens’’ (luxuriant green carpet-grass) planted on it.
He disclosed  that plans are underway to construct additional nine holes to complement the existing 18 holes of the golf course, adding that the extra holes would make it one of the biggest golf courses in the world.
The emir says that the golf course and nature park has 22 permanent workers and 40 casual workers working in various departments.
He expatiates that the park also has a standard club house, with reception, cafeteria and changing rooms as well as a banquet hall.
Sunusi, however, says that there plans to build a first-class hotel and a theme park for tourists in the park.
He also said that plans are underway to establish a Golf Academy to train young people who are aspiring to become professional golfers.
He, nonetheless, solicits the collaboration of the Nigerian Tourism Development Commission (NTDC) and other stakeholders in efforts to boost the tourism potential of the area and attract investors.
Sunusi explained that Jigawa State is endowed with a lot of tourism resources that have yet to tapped, adding that the favorable weather conditions of the state will also aid efforts to transform the state into a good tourist destination.
All the same, analysts underscore the need for all stakeholders in the tourism sector to encourage all innovative plans to develop the vast tourism resources of the country.
They also emphasise that pragmatic efforts should be made to specifically encourage investors like the Emir of Dutse, who are striving to develop the ecotourism sub-sector of the country’s tourism industry.